Not Benn's fault that his father was a Labour politician who was enobled to the Lords before life peers were invented. I suppose that makes him a child victim of reformism.
I have a soft spot for Benn's naive sincerity. He really does believe the world is changed by moral arguments eloquently put.
He really does believe that if the House of Commons was supreme we would have socialism. Misleading peddler of crass parliamentarism - that is him. At least Blair is open that the democratic system is for tinkering with in whatever way works.
So Benn still bangs on about Royal prerogative (the British cover for the dictatorial reserve powers which of course the government may wish to have in reserve). As if a change in the formal constitution would prevent a dictatorial aspect to bougeois democracy.
That is also why he is still stalwartly in favour of first past the post elections, (unlike Scargill) in the hope that once in 50 years a majority will be won by a party led by a fine democrat like himself, produce sweeping radical reforms, even if they are swept away at the next election.
Nevertheless he is a keen observer and critic, and his taped diaries sound like a valuable insider record of the misworkings of bourgeois democracy.
The URL link does not work for me. Any good soundbites from the interview Doug? I am sure it was an interesting item, even though your good editorial choice may make you vulnerable to the marxist morality police.
Chris Burford
London