by Benn, Tony
WILLIAMS, Shirley. Founder member of the SDP in 1981, President in 1982; and SDP MP for Crosby, 1981–3. Secretary of State for Education and Science, and Paymaster-General, 1976–9. Minister of State, Education and Science, 1967–9, and the Home Office, 1969–70. Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, 1974–6. Labour MP for Hitchin, 1964–74, for Hertford and Stevenage, 1974–9. Created a life peer in 1993.
WILSON, Harold (1916–95). Leader of the Labour Party, 1963–76. Prime Minister, 1964–70, and 1974–6. Resigned in 1976 and did not hold office again. President of the Board of Trade, 1947–51, when he resigned with Aneurin Bevan. Chairman of the Labour Party, 1961/2. Labour MP for Ormskirk, 1945–50, and Huyton, 1950–83. Created a life peer, Lord Wilson of Rievaulx, in 1983. Married to Mary Wilson, poet and writer.
WISE, Audrey. Labour MP for Coventry South West, 1974–9, and for Preston since 1987.
WOODCOCK, George (1904–79). General Secretary of the TUC, 1960–9. Assistant General Secretary, 1947–60.
WRATTEN, Donald. Private Secretary to Tony Benn as Postmaster General, 1965–6; Head of Telecommunications Marketing Division, 1966–7.
WYATT, Woodrow. Journalist and Labour MP for Aston, 1945–55, subsequently for Bosworth, 1959–70.
ZANDER, Michael. Lecturer, subsequently Professor in Law at the London School of Economics. Assisted Tony Benn during the peerage campaign, 1960–1. Left the Labour Party to join the SDP.
ZUCKERMAN, Solly (1904–93). Zoologist. Longtime government adviser. Chief Scientific Adviser to Harold Wilson, 1964–70, and to the Secretary of State for Defence, 1960–6. Chairman of the Central Advisory Committee for Science and Technology, 1965–70. Created a life peer in 1971.
Personal
ARNOLD-FORSTER, Mark (1920–81). Political commentator, worked on Guardian, Observer, and ITN, 1946–81. Married to Val Arnold-Forster, Journalist. Family friends.
BENN, Caroline. Born in the USA. Postgraduate degrees from the Universities of Cincinnati and London. Founder member of the comprehensive education campaign in Britain and editor of Comprehensive Education since 1967. Author of educational publications including Half Way There with Professor Brian Simon (1970) and Challenging the MSC with John Fairley (1986). Biographer of Keir Hardie (1992). President, Socialist Educational Association since 1970. Member, Inner London Education Authority, 1970–7. Member, Education Section, UNESCO Commission, 1976–83. Governor of several schools and colleges, including Imperial College, London University and Holland Park School, from 1967. Lecturer, adult education service, 1965–present. Married Tony Benn, 1949. Four children (see below).
BENN, David Wedgwood. Younger brother of Tony Benn; a barrister; worked for the Socialist International and later for the External Service of the BBC. Head of the BBC Yugoslav Section, 1974–84. A writer specialising in Soviet affairs.
BENN, Hilary. Son, born 1953. Educated at Holland Park School and Sussex University. Head of research, MSF. Deputy Leader of Ealing Council and Chair of the Education Committee, 1986–90. In 1973 married Rosalind Retey, who died of cancer in 1979. Married Sally Clark in 1982. Three sons, one daughter.
BENN, Joshua. Son, born 1958. Educated at Holland Park School. Founder of COMMUNITEC Computer Training Consultancy, 1984–8. Co-author of Rock Hardware (1981). Employed by the Housing Corporation since 1988. Married Elizabeth Feeney in 1984. One son.
BENN, June. Former lecturer; novelist writing under the name of June Barraclough. Married David Benn in 1959. Two children, Piers, born in 1962, and Frances, born 1964.
BENN, Melissa. Daughter, born 1957. Educated at Holland Park School and the London School of Economics. Socialist feminist writer and journalist. Author of Public Lives (1995). Contributor to several essay collections on feminism, the media, the police and crime; contributor to Guardian, New Statesman, Marxism Today, Spare Rib, City Limits. One daughter.
BENN, Stephen. Son, born 1951. Educated at Holland Park School and Keele University. PhD for ‘The White House Staff’ (1984). Former assistant to Senator Thomas F. Eagleton. Parliamentary Affairs Officer for Royal Society of Chemistry since 1988. Composer. Married Nita Clarke in 1988. One daughter, one son.
CARTER, Peter. Family friend. Architect.
CLARKE, Nita. Chief press officer, GLC, 1980–6. Married to Stephen Benn since 1988.
GIBSON, Ralph. Barrister and judge. Married to Anne. Close family friends.
RETLEY, Rosalind (1953–79). Married Hilary Benn in April 1973. Rosalind contracted cancer in 1978, and died at home in June 1979. A fund in her memory has been established at Holland Park, her former school, under the control of the students.
STANSGATE, Lady (1897–1991). Margaret Holmes. Daughter of Liberal MP, D.T. Holmes. Married William Wedgwood Benn in 1920. They had three children (the eldest son, Michael, was killed while serving as an RAF pilot during the Second World War). A longstanding member of the Movement for the Ordination of Women, the first President of the Congregational Federation, served on the Council of Christians and Jews, and the Friends of the Hebrew University. Fellow of the Hebrew University. Joint author of Beckoning Horizon, 1934.
STANSGATE, Lord (1877–1960). William Wedgwood Benn. Son of John Williams Benn, who was Liberal MP for Tower Hamlets and later for Devonport, and Chairman, 1904/5, of the London County Council of which he was a founder member. William Wedgwood Benn was himself elected Liberal MP for St George’s, Tower Hamlets, in 1906. Became a Whip in the Liberal Government in 1910. Served in the First World War and was decorated with the DSO and DFC, returning in 1918 to be elected Liberal MP for Leith. Joined the Labour Party in 1926, resigned his seat the same day, and was subsequently elected Labour MP for North Aberdeen (1928–31) in a by-election. Secretary of State for India in the 1929–31 Labour Cabinet. Re-elected as Labour MP for Gorton in 1937. He rejoined the RAF in 1940 at the age of sixty-three, was made a peer, Viscount Stansgate, in 1941, and was Secretary of State for Air, 1945–6, in the postwar Labour Government. World President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, 1947–57.
WINCH, Olive (Buddy). Miss Winch was with the family as a children’s nurse from 1928 until 1940, when she left to undertake war work. A life-long friend.
INDEX
The page references in this index correspond to the printed edition from which this ebook was created. To find a specific word or phrase from the index, please use the search feature of your ebook reader.
Abbott, Diane, 610, 617, 627
abolition of capital punishment (1964), 121
abortion debate, 485, 486–7
Acland, Antony, 391–2
Adair, Red, 419–20
Adeane, Sir Michael, 125, 127, 134, 140–1, 152–3, 235, 277–8
Aircraft and Shipbuilding Nationalisation Bill (1976), 367, 376
Airlie, Jim, 253, 254, 260
al-Sahili, Dr Shafiq, 631–2
Albu, Austen, 161
Aldermaston, 472
Aldridge, Alan, 225
Allaun, Frank, 204, 226, 245, 274, 441–2, 490
Allen, Sir Douglas, 299, 337
Allende, President: murdered (1973), 272; undermined by CIA, 299
Alvarez, Robert, 553
Amery, Julian (Lord), 345
Amin, Idi, 399–400, 412
Amis, Kingsley: poor opinion of Benn, 281
Amoco, 394–5
Animal Liberation Front, 573
Annan, Lord, 134
Anne, Princess, 418, 432
Anti-Nazi League, address to, 448
‘Any Questions’ appearances: (1970), 230; (1982), 540
Apollo 12 landing and moon walk (1969), 215
Arafat, Yasser, 341
Archer, John, 436–7
Arguments for Democracy, 513, 519
Arguments for Socialism, 477, 501
Armstrong, Sir Robert (Lord), 184, 580, 592
Armstrong, Sir William (Lord), 165, 329
Arnold-Forster, Mark, 99, 241, 528
Arnott, John, 470–1
Ascroft
, Eileen, 56
Ashdown, Paddy, 634
Ashley, Jack, 486
Ashton, Joe (PPS), 305, 317, 321, 323, 348, 349, 350, 351, 354, 368, 387, 494, 495, 565
Ashwell, Jack, 459
Astor, Jacob, 42
Atkinson, Norman, 242, 245, 368, 530
Attlee, Clement (1st Earl), 1, 26, 27–8, 29, 31, 36, 97, 140, 213, 269, 289, 373, 619
General Election: majority of six in 1950, 25; defeat in 1951, 25, 32
inferiority complex, 28
Attlee, Violet (Lady), 27–8, 31, 97
Aylestone, Lord, 220
Backbencher of the Year 1990 (Spectator choice), 636
Bacon, Alice, 138, 186, 226
Baker, Peter, 308
Balfe, Richard, 520
Balogh, Thomas (Lord), 100, 156, 236, 421–2, 438
Moscow trip with Benn (1967), 168, 170–1
Banks, Sir Donald, 152
Banks, Tony, 261, 346, 540, 636, 640 offers Benn to stand down as MP (1983), 550
Barker, Bas, 597
Barker, Sue, 87–8
Barlow, Frank, 53
Barnes, Harry, 597
Barnett, Joel (Lord), 290, 291, 364, 401, 462, 487
Basnett, David (Lord), 406, 478, 490, 491, 492, 498, 529, 579
Beatles, 132
Beckett, Margaret, 610, see also Jackson
Beckett, Sir Terence, 449
Ben-Gurion, 43
Benn, Caroline (wife), passim advice and support, 70, 78, 82, 92, 107, 222, 229, 262, 311, 320, 346, 354, 527, 529, 541, 581
articles, 212, 225
book on comprehensive education, 194
Chair of Holland Park School governors, 236
Comprehensive Schools Committee Group, 176
contributes to education policy, 495
Keir Hardie biography, 601, 625, 641
marriage and children, 25, 47–8, 56, 61
member of ILEA, 225, 264
recording for BBC, 152
tributes from husband, 340, 373
visits with husband: Bedwas Colliery, 338; Washington (1967), 172
Benn, David (brother), 1, 13, 27, 84
Benn, Emily (grand-daughter), birth, 621
Benn, Hilary (son), 58, 63, 102, 134, 137, 212, 246, 337, 349, 443, 481, 534
birth, 25; serious injury, 262, 264; marriage, 265; death of wife, 476–7; remarriage, 538; birth of children, 522, 556
authority on the Common Market, 567
Benn, James (grandson), 614, 638
Benn, Joshua (son), 63, 104, 106, 112, 124, 163–4, 199, 222, 230
birth, 25, 56; support at elections, 300, 562; birth of son, 574
meeting with Duke of Edinburgh, 180
Benn, Michael (brother), 11, 14, 17, 505
letters from Tony, 2–3, 4–6
service in RAF, 1, 10; awarded DFC, 5; killed in action, 12–13, 26
Benn, Michael Graham Clark (grandson), 614, 633
birth, 522, 524
Benn, Melissa (daughter), 63, 106, 112, 172, 194, 199, 250
birth, 25, 47–8
TV appearance, 203–4
First Class degree LSE, 477
meeting with Duke of Edinburgh, 180
Benn, Nita (daughter-in-law): marriage (1988), 615; birth of daughter, 621
Benn, Rosalind (daughter-in-law), 262, 265, 443, 445, 466
death, 476–7
Benn, Sally (daughter-in-law): marriage and birth of sons, 522, 538, 556
Benn, Stephen (son), 58, 143, 193, 194, 197, 273
birth, 25; A-levels, 212; help at elections, 300; election agent 473; candidate GLC elections, 514; marriage, 615; birth of daughter, 621
Benn, William Graydon Feeney (grandson), birth, 574; 576, 614
Berrill, Kenneth, 436
Beswick, Frank, 285
Betjeman, Sir John, 71, 170
Bevan, Aneurin, 26, 27, 32, 33, 37, 44, 48, 51, 52, 53, 54, 59–60, 69
resigns as Minister on introduction of health charges, 28–30
death, 72
Beveridge Report, 4–5, 48
Bevin, Ernest, 29, 31
resigns as Foreign Secretary, 28
Bevins, J. R., 118, 151
Beynon, Alan, 547
Biffen, John, 274, 345, 376, 399
Binning, Ken, 284
Birkbeck College, 493
Birch, Nigel, 53
Bish, Geoffrey, 263, 467, 468, 470, 594, 595
Blackburn, Robin, 577
Blake, George, 165
Blunkett, David, 558, 578, 580, 583, 584, 611
Blunt, Anthony: revealed as spy (1979), 483–4
Booth, Albert, 358, 383, 457
Borman, Colonel Frank, 199, 201
Bowden, Herbert (Lord), 111, 112, 117, 154, 510
Bowder, John (APS), 216
Boyle, Sir Edward: resigns over Suez, 42–3
Braddock, Bessie, 42, 70, 182
Bradley, Tom, 276
Brandt, Willy, 288, 502
Benn plays host (1980), 488–9
meeting with Saddam Hussein to effect hostage release, 631, 636, 639–40
Branson, Sir Richard, 632
Bray, Jeremy, 405
Bretherton, James, 451
Brezhnev, Leonid, 247, 489; doctrine, 218
Briggs, Asa (Lord), 134
Brinham, George, 81
Bristol East constituency selected as candidate (1983), 545
narrow defeat in 1983 General Election, 548
Bristol South constituency defeated in selection contest (1982), 544–5
Bristol South East constituency by-election victory (1950), 25
retains seat: (1951) 31; (1955) 37; (1959) 67
victory in by-election after readoption and disqualification (1961), 88–9; unsuccessfully defends seat at Election Court, 91–4
takes up seat again in 1963, 101–4
retained with increased majority: (1964) 115, (1966) 148
majority halved in 1970, 231
increased majority: (February 1974) 282; (October 1974) 300
much reduced majority (1979), 472
seat disappears with boundary changes, 500–1
Bristol riots (1980), 487
British Petroleum, 328, 334, 342, 343–4, 424, 525
Benn opposes sales of shares, 405, 421
Brittan, Sir Leon
Home Secretary, 563
Trade and Industry Secretary, 580
resigns after Westland affair, 581, 592
Brockway, Fenner (Lord), 46, 500, 524
Brook, Sir Norman, 43
Broughton, Sir Alfred, 367
Brown, George (Lord George-Brown), 81, 82, 88, 95, 104, 106, 107, 119, 138, 144, 146, 153–4, 160–1, 165, 168, 172, 176, 178, 186, 204, 222, 226, 258, 299, 634
appointed Foreign Secretary, 163
resignation over decision to close gold market, 182–5
instability, 185
attack on Benn, 311
resigns from Labour Party, (1975), 346–7
SDP member, 510, 531
Brown, Ron, 184
Brown, Sir Stanley, 228
Brown, Wilfred (Lord), 274
Buckton, Ray, 262, 426, 449, 478
Bunster, Alvaro, 272
Burroughs, Bill (PS), 460, 465, 470, 472, 473
Burrows, John, 560, 571, 575, 597, 609, 632
Bush, George, 625
Butler, David, 32, 39, 42, 43, 52, 86, 94, 105
Butler, Gordon, 571
Butler, Richard Austen (Lord), 45, 93–4, 99
Butlin, Billy, 152
Callaghan, Audrey (Lady), 83, 405, 418
Callaghan, James (Lord), 36, 44, 50, 53, 72, 83, 100, 109, 145, 146, 164, 176, 198, 213, 215, 217, 221, 227, 237, 239, 244, 249, 259, 263, 267, 268, 270, 274–6, 277, 280, 293, 324, 331, 348, 349, 500, 516, 528, 542
Home Secretary (1967–70), 179; suspected of plotting by Wilson (1968), 197; challenges leadership, 204; war against crime, 219–20; political skills, 236
favours li
mits on immigration (1972), 258
campaign for leadership (1973), 272
fears power of unions, 278–9, 479–80
Foreign Secretary (1974–6), 285, 286, 287, 294–5, 334, 351
Common Market, 313, 315, 425–8
successful leadership bid (1976), 350, 352, 353, 354–5
Prime Minister (1976–9), 357–61, 362, 365, 366, 368, 369, 371–3, 374, 375–6, 390, 392–3, 396, 400, 401, 405, 420, 422–3, 431, 437, 439, 440, 447–8, 456, 459, 619; appoints Jay ambassador to US, 415; direct elections to European Parliament 416–17; warns strikers and unions (1977) 432–3; sends frigates to Falklands (1977), 434; monetary policy, 446, 449, 450, 451, 452, 457, 462, 464; IMF crisis, 377–89; improving relations with Benn, 393; Lib-Lab pact (1977), 407–9; summit meeting with Carter, 413; conflict with Benn, 426–7, 497; security services, 452–4; attends Guadeloupe summit, 461; winter of discontent (1979), 461–2, 463; government defeat in House, 466–7; Election (1979), strategy, 468–70; defeat, 473
leader (1979), 474–5, 478, 479, 482, 483, 490–1, 492, 493
resigns as leader (1980), 499
Cambodia, US invasion (1970), 225
Cameron, Ken, 630
Campaign for Democratic Socialism (CDS), 244
Campbell, Bea, 540, 559
Campbell, Duncan, 506–7
Campbell-Savours, Dale, 375, 573
Carey, Archbishop George, 636
Carrington, Peter (Lord), 424, 637
resignation as Foreign Secretary, 532, 533
Carter, Jimmy, 379, 405, 456, 457, 461, 553
Downing Street summit (1977), 413–14
foreign policy, 416
nuclear policy, 411, 413, 414
Cartwright, John, 276, 405
Carver, Peter, 255
Castle, Barbara (Baroness), 46, 55, 79, 80, 108, 112, 144, 147, 160, 161, 177, 186, 220, 221, 242–3, 275, 286, 291, 295, 300, 308, 323, 327, 348, 349, 360, 373, 406, 430, 449, 481
anti-Common Market, 313, 314–15
diaries, 167, 494
Industrial Relations Bill (1968), 198, 203, 204, 209, 210
Minister of Transport (1965–8), 144, 145, 176, 179, 183
Secretary of State for Social Services (1974–6), 285, 337
sense of personal injustice, 328
Castro, Fidel, 192
Catherwood, Sir Fred, 449
Ceausescu, Nicolae, meeting with (1968), 190–2
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), 456
