Tony Benn To The Rescue

"The 80-year-old former cabinet minister yesterday swallowed huge doubts about the Iraq war to spend three hours talking to a list of wavering voters provided by Labour campaign headquarters.

Mr Benn, ostracised as a socialist eccentric by Mr Blair for nearly 10 years, was rung by sheepish Labour officials at his London home. He said the call was a sign that Labour was in recovery. "To have them ring me to help them out, well it shows this election means Labour is returning to what it was."

He admitted that his calls to a list of potential switchers had been hard going. "I am president of the anti-war coalition so there is no point saying Iraq has been anything but a disaster. I have been campaigning for 63 years and I will always support Labour. It is a trade union party and socialist party. It has done good things." - Guardian.