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Tony Benn, veteran Labour MP is retiring from Parliament after 50 years service. Once a committed moderniser and technocrat, Benn swung to the Left in the early 1970's after the disapointment of the '64-'70 Wilson Government. Serving as Minister for Technology and later Minister for Energy in the '64-'70 Wilson/Callaghan, Benn called for the "transfer of power and wealth to working people and their families".

After the rise of Mrs Thatcher Benn championed the cause of constitutionally reforming the Labour Party to ensure that the PLP would be answerable to grassroots members.

However, after the disastorous Labour defeat of '83 (in which Benn lost his Bristol seat) his influence began to wain. Under Kinnock the Labour Party began the long march to "modernisation" and Tony Benn was blamed by many to be the cause of Labour's unelectability. Since challenging Kinnock for the leadership of the Labour Party in 1988, Benn has argued for a greater more powerfull Parliament and is vocal in his calls for greater democratisation of public life.

Once reviled by the Tories and the Right-wilng media, Tony Benn has gained many former enemies respect by champoining the right of Parliament to effectivly scrutinise the Executive.

Whatever one thinks of Tony Benn's politics he is truly a peoples politician who will be truly missed at Westminster.

Although now 75 years of age, Tony Benn believes that by standing down from parliament he can devote more time to politics! Watch this space.