15 Mar 2014

Tony Benn: ‘I’ll check that on transmission’

In 2002 Tony Benn left this heartfelt video message for his wife, family and friends with Channel 4 News to be played after his death.

In the video he said: “As by definition I won’t be able to say this again, can I take this opportunity of thanking my family, my mother and father, and my two brothers, and above all Caroline who inspired me over the 50 years of our marriage and my children and grandchildren.

“All the many, many other people who supported me, encouraged me and taught me so much.

“And I hope that in return I encouraged them and that I didn’t give offence because I tried to speak my mind and that’s what you’ve got to do in politics. So thank you very much.”

Finally he added with a laugh: “And I’ll check that on transmission” The left-wing radical, who renounced his peerage to become the longest-serving Labour MP in history, died at the age of 88.