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The former Labour Cabinet minister Tony Benn has died at the age of 88.
The veteran politician passed away in his home in West London, his family revealed in
a statement.
Tony Benn was one of the most influential left wing politicians to have served in government
and became a voice for the radical left, representing Labour's socialist roots.
His political career started when he won a by-election in 1950 and became the youngest
MP in the chamber, with centre-left political views that remained strong for decades.
Benn became a postmaster general for Labour in 1964 and introduced a legislation that
closed down pirate radio stations across Britain. In 1967 he became Minister of Technology and
turned to campaigning on health plans during the early 1970s.
He stood for Labour leadership several times and in his career became a campaigner for
a number of causes, particularly opposition to UK military involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Many have paid tribute today with Labour leader Ed Miliband describing Benn as an iconic figure
of our age.