( Anthony Wedgwood Benn 1925–)
a British Labour politician, famous for his left-wing views, who has had important positions in two Labour governments. He was a Member of Parliament from 1950 to 2001. He is the son of a viscount (1) and when his father died the title legally passed to him, so he was unable to continue in the House of Commons . He refused to accept the title and started a campaign to introduce a law allowing people with such titles to give them up if they wished. It was made a law in 1963, and Benn returned to the House of Commons. He retired from Parliament as the longest serving Labour MP ever and continues to be active in politics.