From the archive: Tony Benn – “the most dangerous man in Britain“ – reflects on the 1968 protests

So, where was the Labour Party in the year of revolution and street protests? The great conscience of the Left, a man who can look back on many righteous, principled battles fought, still seems troubled by his lack of participation in the movement of 1968.

By Sholto Byrnes

This piece was originally published in 2008.

“I’ll tell you my idea of progress,” says Tony Benn. “You come up with a good idea – it’s ignored. If you go on, you’re mad. Then if you go on, you’re dangerous. There’s a pause. And then you can’t find anyone at the top who doesn’t claim to have thought of it in the first place.” At 83, and elevated to the role of unofficial conscience to the nation, Benn is presumed to be full of good ideas. In a poll last month comparing potential prime ministers “at the peak of their powers”, Benn received more than three times as many votes as Gordon Brown.

1925 Born Anthony Neil Wedgwood Benn. His father, William, is a Liberal MP who defects to the Labour Party in 1927, serves as secretary of state for India and is ennobled as Viscount Stansgate in 1942
1950 Elected MP for Bristol South-East
1960 Inherits his father’s title. Fights to renounce his peerage and remain in the Commons, precipitating the Peerage Act 1963
1964-66 Serves as postmaster general under Harold Wilson
1966-70 Enters cabinet as minister of technology
1974-75 Secretary of state for industry
1975-79 Secretary of state for energy
1981 Stands for deputy leadership of Labour Party against Denis Healey. Loses
1988 Stands for party leadership against Neil Kinnock. Loses
2001 Retires as an MP in order “to devote more time to politics”