Friday, August 29, 2008

When Tony Benn met Saddam Hussein

If you have heard Tony Benn interviewed recently you will know that he is fond of saying there are five questions we should ask of any politician:
"What power have you got? Where did you get it from? In whose interests do you use it? To whom are you accountable? How do we get rid of you?'
Except that, as Oliver Kamm points out, that is not precisely what he said to Saddam.

It was more:
"I have 10 grandchildren and in my family there is English, Scottish, American, French, Irish, Jewish, Indian, Muslim blood, and for me politics is about their future, their survival. And I wonder whether you could say something yourself directly through this interview to the peace movement of the world that might help to advance the cause they have in mind?"

2 comments:

James Graham (Quaequam Blog!) said...

It would be nice if Tony Benn would actually answer questions instead of going off on whatever tangeant he wants to go off on. Witness me bowling him a thoroughly underarm question (the second one), and how he deals with it.

dreamingspire said...

He's definitely a national institution these days, one hopes with no longer any influence, but why not leave him be. He is at least entertaining. Maybe he will reveal more before its too late.