More Time for Politics: Diaries 2001-2007

More Time for Politics continues Tony Benn's published series of diaries, covering the period from 2001 to 2007. During these years, Benn transitioned from Member of Parliament to private citizen after five decades in the House of Commons. The diary entries document major events including 9/11, the Iraq War, and changes in Labour Party leadership under Tony Blair. Benn records his daily activities, political observations, and interactions with figures across the British political spectrum. As a retired MP, Benn maintained an active schedule of speaking engagements, protests, and media appearances while also spending time with his family and reflecting on his long career. His entries mix political commentary with personal notes about health, aging, and the loss of his wife Caroline. The diaries provide an insider's perspective on British left-wing politics while exploring universal themes of purpose and conviction in public life. Through his frank, detailed recordkeeping, Benn creates a chronicle that serves both as memoir and historical document.

Readers found these diaries provided candid insights into major political events like 9/11, the Iraq War, and Tony Blair's leadership from a veteran Labour MP's perspective. Many appreciated Benn's personal observations of daily parliamentary life and behind-the-scenes political dynamics. Liked: - Detailed accounts of constituent work and local activism - Honest reflections on aging and mortality - Commentary on media manipulation in politics - Humor and wit throughout entries Disliked: - Repetitive complaints about New Labour - Some found political views too far left - Less historical detail than previous diary volumes - Writing style can be dry at times Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (142 ratings) Amazon UK: 4.5/5 (31 reviews) Amazon US: 4.2/5 (12 reviews) One reader noted: "Benn's determination to remain engaged in grassroots politics even after leaving Parliament comes through powerfully." Another commented: "Sometimes tedious day-to-day details, but valuable record of a transformative period in British politics."

A Journey by Tony Blair Blair's memoir provides an inside account of UK politics during his time as Prime Minister, covering many of the same events as Benn's diaries from an opposing perspective.

The Blair Years by Alastair Campbell Campbell's detailed diaries document his role as Blair's communications director through major political events including 9/11 and the Iraq War.

Kind of Blue: A Political Memoir by Ken Clarke Clarke's memoir chronicles his experiences as a Conservative minister during the same era Benn describes, offering a view from the other side of the Commons.

The Third Man: Life at the Heart of New Labour by Peter Mandelson Mandelson's account reveals the inner workings of the New Labour movement during the period covered in Benn's diaries.

Power and the People: 1974-1987 by Chris Mullin Mullin's diaries provide observations of British parliamentary life from another left-wing MP's perspective during an overlapping period.

📚 Tony Benn was Britain's longest-serving Labour MP when he retired in 2001, and this diary begins the day after he stepped down from Parliament. 🗣️ The book captures Benn's fierce opposition to the Iraq War, including his memorable meetings with Saddam Hussein in 2003 to try to prevent the conflict. 📝 Throughout the diary, Benn recorded keeping exactly 12,962 tabs on press cuttings during this period, showing his meticulous nature as a diarist and political observer. 🎙️ While writing these diaries, Benn remained politically active by giving speeches at anti-war rallies and speaking at an average of 100 public meetings per year. 📅 The diaries reveal Benn's daily ritual of drinking tea from his personalized mug (which he carried everywhere) while making diary entries at 6:30 AM each morning - a practice he maintained for over 70 years.