Tony Benn

**Anthony Neil Wedgwood** ‘**Tony**’ **Benn**, <small>PC</small> (3 April 1925 – 14 March 2014), formerly **2nd Viscount Stansgate**, was a British Labour Party politician.

Benn was born in Marylebone, London, England. He was married to Caroline DeCamp (1926–2000) from 1949 until her death. Their four children are: Stephen, Hilary, Melissa and Joshua. He had been a vegetarian since 1970. He was also an agnostic.

Benn inherited the title of Viscount Stansgate from his father, William Wedgwood Benn, in 1960. He became the first peer to renounce his title. This made him able to become a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1963. He was a Cabinet Minister under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan. From 2001 to his death, he was President of the Stop the War Coalition.

Benn died after an illness on 14 March 2014 in London. He was 88 years old.

## Infobox (minister)

- **honorific-prefix**: The Right Honourable
- **birthname**: Anthony Neil Wedgwood Benn
- **image**: Tony Benn2.jpgborder
- **caption**: Tony Benn in 2007
- **office**: President of the Stop the War Coalition
- **vicepresident**: Lindsey German
- **1namedata**: Andrew Murray (trade unionist), Andrew Murray
Jeremy Corbyn
- **term start**: 21 September 2001
- **term end**: 14 March 2014
- **predecessor**: Stop the War Coalition#Formation, _Office established_
- **successor**: _Vacant_
- **office1**: Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Secretary of State for Energy
- **primeminister1**: Harold Wilson
James Callaghan
- **term start1**: 10 June 1975
- **term end1**: 4 May 1979
- **predecessor1**: Eric Varley
- **successor1**: David Howell, Baron Howell of Guildford, David Howell
- **office2**: Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Secretary of State for Industry
- **primeminister2**: Harold Wilson
- **term start2**: 5 March 1974
- **term end2**: 10 June 1975
- **predecessor2**: Peter Walker, Baron Walker of Worcester, Peter Walker
- **successor2**: Eric Varley, Baron Varley, Eric Varley
- **office3**: National Executive Committee, Chairman of the Labour Party
- **leader3**: Harold Wilson
- **term start3**: 20 September 1971
- **term end3**: 25 September 1972
- **predecessor3**: Ian Mikardo
- **successor3**: William Simpson
- **office4**: Minister of Technology
- **primeminister4**: Harold Wilson
- **term start4**: 4 July 1966
- **term end4**: 19 June 1970
- **predecessor4**: Frank Cousins
- **successor4**: Geoffrey Rippon
- **office5**: Postmaster General of the United Kingdom, Postmaster General
- **primeminister5**: Harold Wilson
- **term start5**: 15 October 1964
- **term end5**: 4 July 1966
- **predecessor5**: Reginald Bevins
- **successor5**: Edward Short, Baron Glenamara, Edward Short
- **office8**: Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament
for Bristol South East (UK Parliament constituency), Bristol South East
- **term start9**: 30 November 1950
- **term end9**: 17 November 1960
- **predecessor9**: Stafford Cripps
- **successor9**: Malcolm St Clair (politician), Malcolm St Clair
- **term start8**: 20 August 1963
- **term end8**: 9 June 1983
- **predecessor8**: Malcolm St Clair (politician), Malcolm St Clair
- **successor8**: Boundary Commissions (United Kingdom), _Constituency abolished_
- **office7**: Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament
 for Chesterfield (UK Parliament constituency), Chesterfield
- **term start7**: 1 March 1984
- **term end7**: 7 June 2001
- **predecessor7**: Eric Varley, Baron Varley, Eric Varley
- **successor7**: Paul Holmes (politician), Paul Holmes
- **birth place**: Marylebone, London, England
- **death place**: London, England
- **party**: Labour Party (UK), Labour
- **nationality**: British
- **parents**: William Wedgwood Benn, 1st Viscount Stansgate, William Wedgwood Benn
Margaret Wedgwood Benn, Margaret Holmes
- **alma mater**: Westminster School
New College, Oxford
- **branch**: Royal Air Force
- **rank**: Pilot officer
- **battles**: World War II, Second World War