The former Labour MP and Cabinet Minister Tony Benn has passed away at his home in London at the age of 88.
The veteran left-wing campaigner was an outspoken activist and became the president of the Stop the War Coalition in 2001.
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| Tony Benn pictured at Parliament Square on May 23, 2009 (Picture: peacestrike.org) |
Prime Minister David Cameron paid tribute to the former minister.
"I am sorry to hear that Tony Benn has died.
"He was a magnificent writer, speaker, diarist and campaigner, with a strong record of public and political service.
"There was never a dull moment listening to him, even when you disagreed with everything he said," the Prime Minister said.
Labour leader Ed Miliband, also expressed his condolences.
“He will be remembered as a champion of the powerless, a great parliamentarian and a conviction politician.
"Tony Benn spoke his mind and spoke up for his values. Whether you agreed with him or disagreed with him, everyone knew where he stood and what he stood for."
Tony Benn is fondly remembered by the Tamil community, for standing in solidarity with Tamil protestors in 2009.
He attended several demonstrations, condemning Sri Lanka’s violence against Tamils as crimes against humanity at a rally on June 20, 2009, attended by over 100,000 British Tamils.
Tony Benn obituary: No one else so superbly led the left with such fire (The Independent)