We are fortunate that the three pillars of Tony Benn’s socialism — the radical democratization of politics, the Alternative Economic Strategy, and antiwar internationalism — were explored in so many of his articles and interviews, and in his speeches to Parliament, demonstrations, conferences, and picket lines. Looking around at the world today and the challenges we face, Benn’s analysis is as relevant as ever and can help guide us through the tasks that lie ahead. So the publication of The Most Dangerous Man in Britain?, a new anthology of his political writing, couldn’t be more timely.

I would recommend this book as essential reading for every socialist activist inside and outside the Labour Party and everyone interested in building a fairer, better world of peace and justice.

Tony Benn and his writings have been — and remain — a huge inspiration for me. As someone lucky enough to have known and been generously encouraged by him, I was excited to hear about the publication of this anthology. I did wonder, however, whether there would be anything in it that I hadn’t previously come across. But given that it includes some great pieces I have never read (despite my keen consumption of Benn’s books), I was right to be excited.