Alun Wyburn-Powell

Political Wings – The Beginning of a Dynasty

When anyone thinks of the British political dynasty they always start with Tony Benn the Second Viscount Stansgate, the man who disclaimed his title so he could sit in the House of Commons. The forgotten member of that dynasty is often William Wedgwood Benn the first member of the family to be elected to Parliament then raised to the Lords. To many he is just the father of Tony not the beginning of a Political Dynasty.

Political Wings by Alun Wyburn-Powell is one of the shortest political biographies of the year but also one of the most interesting, no wasted words here. This is one of the most well researched and engrossing reads that charts his rise from the East End to Parliament as well as becoming an Air Commodore to being a member of the government.

How like many Members of Parliament he won and lost Parliamentary seats at elections but unlike many he went from the Liberal Party to the Labour Party when it really was new. How he represented two Scottish and two English Parliamentary seats, was offered a post by Lloyd George but went on to sit in a Labour Government. Benn at this time helped to enhance the Labour Party’s reputation, and was well known for his efficiency at attacking the Party’s opponents.

Benn like his son would do to Chesterfield, lost Aberdeen due to neglecting the constituency work, but he had the excuse of a very heavy workload as a Cabinet Minister and Aberdeen not being easy to reach from London. In 1931 when he did lose the seat it could also be blamed on the very poor electoral showing of the Labour Party across the country, similar to that in 2015.

What I do like and that has been mentioned often even in recent times is where the Stansgate name came from, a flat pack home they built in Essex. The book tells of the career of William Benn’s father and how it had an impact upon William and some of the most interesting passages are the early years. There are also interesting passages concerning the First World War and very much the lack of accountability to Parliament then is very much the same as today.

One thing that both William had in common with his son Tony is evident in this book in that they were both workaholics and neither ever really retired from the political sphere to take a backseat. What this book did do is remind me that Winston Churchill only ever did win one election that of 1951 but also he became a grandfather.

Political Wings is one of the most interesting reads about the start of a political dynasty that I have read in a long time. This book is clearly written and researched which makes it a pleasure to read without the padding of other books about the Benns. An important book from both a political and historical period when there was so much confusion in the early twentieth century, read and enjoy.… (altro)

Wyburn-Powell has written an important contribution to not only the history of the Liberal Party in England but also to the political life of the country more generally.

Most people will be far more familiar with the later generations of the Benn political dynasty including Tony Benn and his son Hilary. This book explores precisely how that dynasty was created and the formidable man behind it.

One is struck how far to the left the First Viscount Stansgate was on many issues and it certainly sheds light on Tony Benn’s later unflagging support of various underdog causes in a type of emulation of his father.

Overall one is left wanting to read more about the fascinating history of British politics in the interwar years where elections happened much more frequently and politicians were far more likely to cross the floor – in some cases back again not long after. As much as a personal history of William Wedgwood Benn, this book is also a history of the fall of the Liberal Party and the rise of the Labour Party with Benn as a participant and, at times, unsung catalyst.

Alun Wynburn-Powell has done an extraordinary job of research on William Wedgwood Benn who unlike his son Tony, did not publish extensive diaries in his lifetime. The writer also assumes the reader has some knowledge of the workings of parliament and the British political system. However, even with a rudimentary understanding and interest in Benn it should provide and enjoyable and informative read.… (altro)