# Talk:Tony Benn

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I have just modified 5 external links on Tony Benn. Please take a moment to review my edit. If you have any questions, or need the bot to ignore the links, or the page altogether, please visit this simple FaQ for additional information. I made the following changes:

Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20140413143554/http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Crowds-gather-funeral-Tony-Benn/story-20860483-detail/story.html to http://www.essexchronicle.co.uk/Crowds-gather-funeral-Tony-Benn/story-20860483-detail/story.html
Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20131015074122/http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/exhibitions-and-events/exhibitions/suffragettes/ to http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/exhibitions-and-events/exhibitions/suffragettes/
Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20140222220733/http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/electionsvoting/womenvote/case-study-emily-wilding-davison/ewd/tony-benn-plaque/ to http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/electionsvoting/womenvote/case-study-emily-wilding-davison/ewd/tony-benn-plaque
Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20120113003305/http://www.islington.gov.uk/Council/CouncilNews/PressOffice/2011/06/PR4430.asp to http://www.islington.gov.uk/Council/CouncilNews/PressOffice/2011/06/PR4430.asp
Added archive https://web.archive.org/web/20150714042549/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/pictures/PHOTOS-Bristol-MP-Tony-Benn-passes-away/pictures-20810430-detail/pictures.html to http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/pictures/PHOTOS-Bristol-MP-Tony-Benn-passes-away/pictures-20810430-detail/pictures.html
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The Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki took place on 6th and 9th of August 1945, and the Japanese Emperor announced Japans surrender to the Allies on August 15.
Currently the article states:

He relinquished his commission with effect from 10 August 1945, three months after the Second World War ended in Europe on 8 May, and just days before the war with Japan ended on 2 September.
The last clause in this sentence is misleading because, particularly the phrase "just days before", it imples that Benn was privy to the events of August 1945 prior to their happening, and so knew that the war was effectivly over. It is unlikely that he was. I have no idea why he resigned his commission or even why it was accepted, but it was not because he or his immediate superiors in early August 1945 could know that the war would be over by the middle of the month.
I suggest that either the last clause is removed or that it is altered to explain his motive (eg "because he thought it unlikely that he would serve in the war against Japan and he wished to ...").
-- PBS (talk) 11:06, 29 January 2019 (UTC)

My edit of the Tony Benn page keeps getting reversed. An entry from Benn's diary is not relevant to his record as member of the government. A whole paragraph on his views on Mao Zedong are digressive, when a brief sketch of his actions as government minister are being discussed. The source in question is a newspaper column written by a journalist who is frank in admitting his hostility to Benn. The inclusion of the quote, presented at such length, suggests a strong political bias.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by Benjamin 096 (talk • contribs) 17:34, 29 August 2020 (UTC) 

There are other reliable sources that support Benn's attitude to Mao.[1] Graham Beards (talk) 17:42, 29 August 2020 (UTC)
I'm not disputing the truth of the statement so much as its relevance. Why is an entire paragraph devoted to his views on Mao? There are more words devoted to this than to his work as a government minister. The subject heading is "In government, 1974–1979", and as such, should be devoted to his actions as a member of the government. If it is felt that this opinion should be included, surely not at such length, and in this part of the page? If it is to be included at all I would suggest truncating it to a more suitable length, and removing it to another part of the page.  — Preceding unsigned comment added by Benjamin 096 (talk • contribs) 17:51, 29 August 2020 (UTC) 

I think there is some truth in Benjamin 096's comment, as it does not relate directly to Benn's role in the Wilson/Callaghan government of 1974-79. It does, however, illustrate a certain amount of naive optimism about Mao's government. It might fit in better somewhere else in the article, but there isn't a "Personal views" section.--♦IanMacM♦ (talk to me) 19:35, 29 August 2020 (UTC)
Yes, I agree. Graham Beards (talk) 20:25, 29 August 2020 (UTC)

I propose changing the lead (infobox) photograph to one from Benn's ministerial career. I edited to Tony Benn 1967.jpg (below) and moved the current 2006 photo to the "later life" section. User:Helper201 reverted pending a consensus; fair enough—I outline my reasoning below.

I have been unable to find firm standing authority to cite, but my solid understanding is that for living persons, it is best practice to use recent photographs, while for persons who have passed on, it is best practice to use a photograph which represents the individual at (for lack of better phrasing) their peak notoriety. While Benn had a long career and was notable essentially the whole way through, it seems best practice here to use a photograph from his time in cabinet. The current 2006 photo is from his post-Westminster days, when he remained very much a public figure but not so much a powerful politician; my proposed replacement is from his time in the Second Wilson cabinet. Ideally, we would have a picture from 1974–75, when he was both Secretary of State for Industry and a contender for Prime Minister, but no such photograph is available on the Commons, so I went with this option for now. -A-M-B-1996- (talk) 17:25, 6 August 2023 (UTC)

Oppose. The newer image is of vastly superior quality. ‑‑Neveselbert (talk · contribs · email) 00:11, 7 August 2023 (UTC)
Oppose. I agree with the above that the 2006 image is of much better quality and should be retained in the infobox. Helper201 (talk) 13:34, 7 August 2023 (UTC)

@EditorOnOccasion: Here are a few quotations demonstrating the superfluousness of the definite article in this context.

Viscount Stansgate died in November 1960, and for the next three years Benn was to devote all his energies to retaining his seat in the Commons.
This was much to the irritation of Geoffrey Fisher, archbishop of Canterbury, who warned Viscount Stansgate, secretary of state at the Air Ministry, that [...]
It was this last provision, brought about by the case of Viscount Stansgate [...] that allowed the Earl of Home to become Prime Minister as Sir Alec Douglas-Home after Harold Macmillan resigned in 1963.
Zacwill (talk) 19:26, 16 January 2025 (UTC)