Sir, – There is a saying in the Scottish labour movement, “no gods and precious few heroes”. Tony Benn aspired to be neither; his style was always effortlessly courteous and considered, even – perhaps particularly – with people who did not agree with him.
That style was deployed to lead a movement that lacked the coherence and discipline of its opponents.
It is therefore worth noting that Tony Benn has died on exactly the 30th anniversary of the start of the miners strike in Britain in 1984. Since then, almost all the collieries have closed.
The City of London has triumphed, destroying the British financial system in the process, while leaving ordinary people to pick up the bill as bonuses are still paid to the people who created the mess. Wages in Britain have declined faster than at any time in over a century and the gap between top and bottom has opened up exponentially.
Tony Benn was on the losing side – it is worth bearing in mind just what was lost before he is subjected to the appalling condescension of the victors. – Yours, etc,
EOIN DILLON,
Ceannt Fort,
Mount Brown,
Dublin 8.