They come and they go, they are big news for their allotted span in power in the papers and on the TV, but few politicians achieve greatness.
Tony Benn was one.
During my years of political reporting very few politicians left a lasting impression.
He was one.
It would have been the early 80s. I was a sprog news reporter and a wannabe political hack.
Tony Benn was coming to Dundee to launch a book or something. Any volunteers to get an extended picture caption, asked the chief reporter.Labour veteran Tony Benn dies at 88I was off like a shot.
I met him in town and we had a one-to-one what these days what they like to call an “exclusive”.
I remember three things.
The first thing he said to me with that distinctive “sh-sh-sh-sh” intonation of his was “do you mind if I tape this interview?”
I was thrown. He doesn’t trust my shorthand.
But he added: “It’s for the diary you understand.”
To this day I don’t know if I made it to the legendary Benn diaries. I’m off to check.
The other thing etched on my mind was Tony Benn’s absolute sincerity.
He believed absolutely what he said.
And the last thing was his hypnotic eyes. I know, it’s a bit weird a bloke talking about another bloke’s eyes.
There aren’t many true political greats.
There’s one fewer today.