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LAST UPDATE | 5 Jul 2024
VETERAN LABOUR MP Hilary Benn was comfortably re-elected in the Leeds South constituency, taking home a 54% share of the vote.
Benn has held that seat since 1999, and is the son of Tony Benn, who was also a veteran MP who held the seat at Westminster for 47 of the 51 years between 1950 and 2001.
However, Hilary Benn (70) did not inherit all the beliefs of his father and once described himself as a “Benn, but not a Bennite”.
While his father Tony, who died in 2014, was an anti-war campaigner, Hilary Benn supported the Iraq war while serving in Tony Blair’s government and later defied then-leader Jeremy Corbyn to back military action against the Islamic State in Syria.
Hilary Benn was Secretary of State for International Development from 2003-2007 under Blair and was Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary from 2015-2016.
He lost this role after a failed coup against then-leader Corbyn in 2016.
Following a reshuffle of the Labour Shadow Cabinet last September, Benn was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. Today, he was appointed as the Government’s Secretary for Northern Ireland.
This appointment was welcomed by Ulster Unionist Party leader Doug Beattie, who said it was “an indication of the importance (Starmer) places on Northern Ireland”.
It’s highly likely Benn will continue in this role with Labour in power.
The Act resulted in new civil litigation being barred, while inquests into Troubles deaths which had not concluded oral hearings have been stopped.
The PSNI will no longer have responsibility for investigating unsolved crimes relating to the Troubles and those investigations have switched to a new commission – the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).
The body has taken on the remit to investigate hundreds of unresolved legacy deaths and cases of serious harm which happened before the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
Benn said he would retain this body but wanted to see if it could command the confidence of victims’ families.
Benn said a Labour government would restore legacy inquests and the ability for Troubles victims to bring civil cases.
He added that Labour would not scrap a new truth recovery body set up to investigate unresolved Troubles deaths, but wanted to see if it could command the confidence of victims’ families.
Benn told BBC Radio Ulster that the Act is “painful” for victims’ families and that it marked a “door being slammed shut in their faces”.
He added that a Labour Government would remove a controversial part of the Act designed to provide conditional immunity for some Troubles offences.
That element of the Act has already been struck out after it was ruled unlawful by the High Court in Belfast, although the UK Government began an appeal against that ruling last month.
Benn said he would restore civil cases and inquests.
He added that he wanted to go back to the approach to legacy set out in the Stormont House Agreement which envisaged separate bodies for information recovery and investigations.
“The fundamental problem with the Legacy Act, which is supposed to deliver for families, is that families do not have confidence in it,” said Benn.
“If you have a system that doesn’t command confidence then you have a problem which needs to be fixed.”
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Alliance won a seat in Lagan Valley, Fermanagh South Tyrone is now a safe nationalist seat East Derry will be a possible nationalist gain in the next election. East Belfast will be in the mix for Alliance next time, as will North Down. The trend is obvious. We in the Republic need to make preparations for a new federal Ireland. Fail to prepare and prepare to fail.
@Sean Sean: agreed. It might be many years down the line, but it is coming and I welcome it.
But the gov in Ireland need to make preparations very soon, we need to ease the worries of unionists so that they get over this notion of becoming second class citizens under a republic.
@David Guiney: how do you propose to do so? The complete ignorance towards unionists in these comments, indicate that we would be completely unheard in a “united” Ireland. How would 6 TDs represent people in the Dail. Almost all comments call us ‘dinosaurs’, ‘bigots’, ‘planters’. Do you want me to go on?
@Sean Sean: And if the SDLP has stood aside in East Derry, SF would have taken the seat from Campbell. I think it was just 179 votes between the DUP and SF.
@Thom Hunter: Where did you get the 6 TDs from? It’s one TD for every 30 thousand people. Ireland operates on the single transferable vote.
NI would be broken down into county constituencies. For instance, Fermanagh with its small population would get 2/ 3 TDs. Belfast would be broken into several constituencies, like it currently is and would end up with 10/12 TDs.
@Teresa Ryan: my mistake. I am not sure how it works in the Republic. Regardless of numbers, how do you think angry unionists, or whatever slur people prefer, would act and therefore be treated in the Dail? Northern Ireland is seriously split, STILL, along sectarian lines, as is reflected in the electoral return on Thursday. So, how will hostile unionists be heard in this ‘New Ireland’? I know how non-unionists were treat3d here, I live here and do not require history lessons, BTW. We call that ‘whataboutery’ and it serves no positive outcome.
@Thom Hunter: we are well aware that most unionists are not bigots, dinosaurs and planters, it’s the minority that give unionists a very bad name, some of those minorities include MP’s, thankfully they are being weeded out bit by bit. There are and were some fine unionist MP’s down through the years, more of the same are needed, people don’t mind a give and take scenario once there’s mutual respect.
@Marie Agnew: very refreshing to hear. Thank you. There are certain words that I believe need to be taken out of our vernacular, from many different viewpoints. I am a unionist. I don’t vote as I do not feel there is a party that i can trust to speak on my behalf. I did not vote on Thursday past, for example. I am nonetheless, a unionist. I do not hate anyone because they have a different skin tone, nationality, sexuality, or political view. To constantly read these comments about how bad I am as I do not wish to change my nationality is quite depressing. I constantly hear that it is me, and people like me, who are at fault and need to ‘go back to the island I love so much’, etc. Does not really fill me with hope for my and my family’s future. Indeed, it has the opposite effect upon me.
@Gerry Dornan: good lad Gerry. People like you will forever be a wart on society. The ‘ra’ killed more innocent Irish than all other actors combined Gerry. Shows ya what you know mate
A very pragmatic and shrewd political mover. The Unionists will not be happy with him.
@AnthonyK: Wrong, this guy is a fully paid-up member of the “British” establishment.
@Jim O’Sullivan:
It was reported in the papers, his father Tony Benn the great “socialist” had being “tax planning” in order to minimise the inheritance tax on the family pile.
Viva la revaluation.
Why are comments closed on most of the articles about UK election results? A democratic election and undemocratic censorship on the journal.
@Ooooooooooo: with respect, actually sod that, you’re talking through your hole. I’ve lost count of the number of UK election articles where the comments are open
@SYaxJ2Ts: You obviously not very good at counting. Try again!
@Ooooooooooo: you mean you’re obviously. Anyway my little snowflake, what is it you want to say that the nasty people on The Journal are stopping you from saying?
@SYaxJ2Ts: You’ll never find out, honeybun. Comments are closed. Jeez, if you read my original post surely you’re capable of understanding that!
@Ooooooooooo: there are tonnes of articles with comments open, just like this one that you’re commenting on
@SYaxJ2Ts: He is publicly complaining about not having a voice on a particular platform, on that actual platform.
@David Guiney:
Nicely put.
“later defied then-leader Jeremy Corbyn to back military action against the Islamic State in Syria.”
Isn’t that some statement?
@honey badger: The Brits are usually arming and training rogue jihadi militias in Syria. Those same terrorists are butchering Christians in that country. It’s a pity they won’t give up their crusade
@honey badger: Corbyn on military intervention in Syria: “The experience of Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya has convinced many of our own people that the elite’s enthusiasm for endless military interventions has only multiplied the threats to us – while leaving death and destabilisation in their wake.“It is the conflict in Syria and the consequences of the Iraq war which have created the conditions for Isis to thrive and spread its murderous rule.”
@Darth O’Leary: It had to be you replying! Only you could wave away the worst ravages of radical islamism, blame the west, and shur we’ll say no more about it.
That’s why he, and you I’ll wager, aren’t taken seriously. The incredible silence regarding Kurds (100,000+ dead), Yazidis (10s of thousands dead, raped, forcefully converted, sold into slavery), Free Syrians (1,000,000+ dead, injured, ethnically cleansed). Assad, Russia, and Iran will always get a free pass from oddballs like the pair of you, no matter what they’ve done. Corbyn has been consigned to the quiet backwaters of politics. It’s only a shame it took so long.
@honey badger: Oh great job amplifying all those Chatham House talking points. It’s like you’re the Irish Times chatbot. Those pesky pacifists really get you triggered, don’t they son. If only they could be more like your Idol, Netanyahu
@Darth O’Leary: You could just address the reasons why you are wilfully blind to what radical islamism does and why you remain mute on the millions of dead and injured – but are singularly unable to resist dragging the state of Israel/ zionism/ a Jewish politician into this, or in fact, any conversation. You give yourself away too easily, Darth.
@honey badger: So much deflection in there as usual. I abhor radical Islamists who harm civilians. As I do Russians who harm civilians or Israelis who harm civilians or any state or organisation that harms civilians. That’s just basic morality to me. Now, how about just once you give up your hypocritical ways and criticise Israel for their blatant war crimes that’d make Putin blush… C’mon, while you’re slating Jeremy… Have some balance for once
@Darth O’Leary: There’s precisely zero deflection there. I’m curious as to why Israel gets you so worked up, but conflicts in the region whose recent casualties dwarf all deaths in the entire history of the Israel/Palestinian/Arab wars can be waved away with a chat bot sneer. You’re fooling no-one.
@honey badger: “In just five months, Israel has killed more children in a strip of land the size of the US state of Philadelphia than all conflicts worldwide did in the past four years combined” said a UN special rapporteur on Wednesday March 13 2024 -
It’s all those dead children that gets me “all worked up about Israel” Honey. It’s all the dead children! How can you be so willfully blind and expect to be taken seriously
@Darth O’Leary: It couldn’t be about dead children. If it was, the ~32,000 Syrian kids who were killed by Assad/Russia would have you apoplectic. However, you don’t take every opportunity to remind everyone what Assad/ Syria/ Russia is doing and did.
A good effort, but not credible.
@honey badger: citation required for that nonsense figure
@Darth O’Leary: Now that’s pathetic. Dead Palestinian children infuriates you. Dead Syrian children are an inconvenience, requiring further scrutiny. Ask the Syrians, it’s all over Google.
Also, a very strange response from a self declared “pacificist”, no?
As I said, you’re fooling no-one.
@honey badger: the 32,000 while still very tragic is taken since 2011, and the UN report clearly states that while the largest portion, 23,000, is due to Asda/Russian force it encompasses ALL factions in the conflict. 923 of those by International Alliance actions ie the West.
The circa 15000 Palestinian children deaths is over past 9 months ( not withstanding the countless thousands since 1947). Almost All are result Zionist actions, made possible by Western Alliance suppled munitions in a genocidal onslaught to ethnically cleanse Gaza.
I hope that clarifies the statics behind your post.
@North Phone Bowe: No, it doesn’t. You washed over 32,000 Syrian kids like it’s a regrettable inevitability, shur it was a few years anyway, and make no mention of weapons suppliers, etc.
You’re identical to Darth. Save the venom for the “zionists” and “the west”. Wave away anything else from islamists, Russians, etc.
What’s *most* remarkable is that this thread kicked off because I learned Corbyn was against fighting ISIS, and somehow (we know why, though) it morphed into whatabout Israel. That train is never late!
@honey badger: Where is the citation for 32 thousand Syrian kids killed by Assad? It’s complete propaganda nonsense that your spouting and you have zilch to back it up. The rogue jihadi militias, trained by UK/US, are the ones responsible for the bloodshed in that country, while the Syrian oil and gas is stolen by the UK/US in these jihadi controlled areas. I have been consistently critical and vociferous on here regarding civilian casualties, including Syrian so try again
@Darth O’Leary: Strangely, your fellow traveller “bowe” was able to quote a UN report that verified those figures. Is the UN a peddler of “propaganda nonsense” now?
You might recall that I started this expressing disbelief that Corbyn was against fighting ISIS. Do you remember what ISIS did? As a vociferous pacificist who is consistently critical of lots of things, how did you end up here? I’d wager good money that you don’t believe Ghouta happened either.
@honey badger: Who initially armed the Taliban?
Who initially armed ISIS and why?
Horrible politician, warmonger.
Not cut from the same cloth as his father.
@carol mullen:
Sir Anthony Wedgwood Benn.
@carol mullen:
His father it was reported in the papers practiced “Tax Planning” in order to minimise his inheritance tax. on the family pile.
@Oooooooooo: The Journal can close the comme to on whatever articles it feels the trolls like you will behave badly on. It has nothing to do with anything undemocratic or censorship. Onlya feeble mind would think this way.
@Sun Rise: Nah, they just don’t want people speaking their minds about the truth. Have you downloaded the spell checker app yet? It would be very beneficial for you I think!
@Sun Rise: Maybe all the trolls should take the Journal to the European Court of Human Rights if they feel their rights are being violated.Do they not realise..Nobody Cares about the very important points they have to make.Go and get a degree in Journalism if they feel their views need to be seen by a bigger audience.
Could not believe he is 70 years old. Must have had a stress free life, which will change now.
I think she would be great for Northern Ireland, I’ve been following her political career for years.
@Liam Byrne: Who?
@Alan Kennedy:
:)
Let’s hope he gives the shinners nothing :)
@John D Doe: go back to sleep.
Hillary is a girls name…
@Gerry Dornan: can be borne by males or females although most of the time a female name. Can also be spelt with 1 or 2 L’s
have your say