The integrity of Hilary Benn
Hilary Benn: Betraying his principles.
Here at Vox Political, we love a politician with principles.
What a shame Hilary Benn doesn’t seem to be one of them.
Only a couple of weeks ago, he was arguing that, after the Paris attacks, the UK should concentrate on peace talks and helping refugees.
One is led to consider whether those who applauded his speech in support of air strikes were really supporting his ‘principled’ view – or whether they were simply happy to see him abandoning whatever principles he had.
An interview published on 15 November in which Hilary Benn said he did not advocate bombing Isis in Syria has been shared widely on social media in the aftermath yesterday’s Syria debate in Parliament.
The interview saw renewed interest after the shadow foreign secretary … advocated the bombing of Syria.
In the previous interview, given to the Independent on Sunday… Mr Benn was asked whether the Government should bring forward a vote on bombing Isis in Syria, which was at that time not planned. He replied:
“No. They have to come up with an overall plan, which they have not done. I think the focus for now is finding a peaceful solution to the civil war.
The comments contrast with the view stated by Mr Benn in his speech two weeks later. In that speech he urged Labour MPs to vote for bombing.
Source: Hilary Benn argued against bombing Syria in an interview two weeks before voting for it
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I believe Hilary Benn has always said that he is, “A Benn, but not necessarily a Bennite”. I have interpreted that to mean that he is on the right wing of the Labour Party.
Didn’t Gideon say something like that, or am I thinking of someone else here?
I cringed all the way through his speech and Jeremy looked very uncomfortable all the way through, I read an article that said a lot of undecided MP’s made their mind up to vote with the government, after his speech, I don’t know how true that is?
He is nothing like his Dad, he at least he had principles and moral integrity!
Does being left or right wing in the Labour party matter in a vote like this? The Labour party policy was set at conference a couple of months ago,, when he was busy supporting it, as shown in his speeches and writings then. He has not provided any reasoned evidence why the “evidence” and assurances of Cameron is now different to back then. So we can only speculate about motive,and it isn’t pretty.
I remain totally confused as a lay person, his speech undoubtedly raised the roof of the HOC and it is quite easy to be taken in hearing such a compassionate oratory.
On hearing what was said in a previous interview re coming up with an overall plan does cast doubt on what I listened to yesterday i.e. a contradiction of his true beliefs..
Integrity????? Even if you disagree with your leader, after doing a 360° turn, shouldn’t the big speeches at least demonstrate a modicum of unity? And as for that Johnson bloke rounding on a leader who has more moral backbone than any labour leader for years, has shown his true blue colours and should join the party of priveledge and wealth! Sorry I forgot they won’t want him as he is only a little right of centre!!!!
Having front stage, timing,passionate words, would have bought him some political support should the party start creating camps..
another blair baby his father is turning in his grave
he has sold his soul to the devil
He’s an insult to the name.
he was on the right stage at the right time for his own political gain. He is no Bennite. We could have done with Tony Benn in the last few months.
Given what Hilary Benn said a couple of weeks ago – which I’ve just this minute learnt thanks to this website – I can’t help but wonder when, and why, he supposedly changed his mind. I’m not sure how much of a Blairite he is, and was, but just as Blair himself was a fraud who, along with the Establishment’s backing, hijacked the Labour Party, I can’t help but wonder if Benn’s speech – supposedly written at the last minute (a Blind perhaps!) – and all the clapping and cheering, was all contrived by the Establishment. THEY, are more than capable of such machinations, and their propaganda machine – the right-wing press – would of course do their part, as they always do, and just as they have been doing since Corbyn was elected leader of the Labour Party.
I must admit I’ve never really paid that much attention to him and, as such, don’t know a great deal about him, but I’m gonna check his voting record, which should give me some idea. If I’m right in my above analysis, was he already a fascist, or did the fascists who run the show convince him to be a part of their conspiracy against Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Left (traditional Labour, in fact), and the hundreds of thousands of people who voted for him. I’d be interested to hear any thoughts on the matter.
If he voted with his “conscience” on Wednesday evening was he “unconscious” two weeks ago? Or should it be the other way around?
It would be nice to read some actual quotes in this article from Hilary Benn saying he supports bombing. I’m not disputing he said it, just the quality of the writing here. There is a poorly referenced quote that says he doesn’t and then no quote saying he does. I’m sure it’s out there and am quite willing to believe he is the spawn of the devil, but it would be nice if it was supported properly
You mean you didn’t see/hear it splashed across the media? And you didn’t see/hear it splashed across the media only two weeks previously that he supported the opposite view?
Have you been abroad?