News from Labour Matters

Three cheers for Tony Benn for breaking the BBC Gaza appeal ban

The Press Gazette reports that Tony Benn used an interview on the Today programme to break the BBC’s self-imposed ban on broadcasting an appeal for the people of Gaza.

When asked to comment on this isue by Ed Stourton, Benn said:

“£50 would provide a food parcel for a family for a month.

“There are a million and a half people in Gaza without water, sanitation, shelter or electricity; 1330 have been killed, there are 5,450 casualties; 460 children.

“What I’m going to do now is to do the appeal myself and say if you want to make a cheque payable to the Disasters Emergency Committee Gaza Crisis, post it to PO Box 999, London EC3A 3AA or go to any post office quoting pre-pay number 1210.”

When Stourton tried to steer Benn back towards answering his original question, the 83-year-old campaigner replied: “I’m going to go on repeating it [the appeal] until you turn me out of the studio.”

Read the full article.

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