Not long ago, it was revealed that Emily Benn, the 17-year-old granddaughter of Tony Benn has been selected as a parliamentary candidate, wanting to join her uncle Hilary on the Labour benches. Of course, considering the Conservative 8,183 majority, she hasn't got a chance.

And now it has been announced that Tony Benn himself wants to be an MP again [via Devil's Kitchen]. He has written to the re-created Kensington constituency, created from parts of the Kensington and Chelsea and Regent's Park and Kensington North constituencies, offering to be their candidate in an election. Even though "the [Conservative] party's margin is expected to be much smaller" in the revived constituency, they're still very likely to win. Neither the youngest or oldest Benn have much chance of winning.

Just as his granddaughter is way too young to be an MP, Tony Benn is way too old. He is 82 - he should be at home with a packet of Werther's Originals, his pipe and slippers, not wanting to back into parliament. He retired as an MP in 2001, presumably because he felt he was too old. He most certainly is too old now. After 70, no-one should stand to be an MP. If they want to be involved in politics at that age, they should go to the Lords.

Also, Tony Benn is hardly up with the times. His website has the message: "This website is currently unavailable as it is being completely redesigned to add new content during 2005"up on it's front page.

However, an election battle between Malcolm Rifkind and Tony Benn would be worth watching...

Sources: BBC, The Telegraph

It seems that nepotism is live and well in the Labour party. Anas Sarwar has been selected to replace his father as MP for Glasgow Central, and John Prescott's son wants to stand in his father's Hull constituency. Now it is going even further, as not only is Tony Benn's son an MP and in the Cabinet, his granddaughter [Hilary's niece - and like him calls herself a "Benn not a Bennite."] is the Labour candidate in East Worthing - despite not yet being 18.

That is absurd. Yes, 18 year-olds are legally able to stand for Parliament but they shouldn't actually do so. Ever. It's just stupid. They simply don't have the life experience. Emily Benn hasn't even finished her A-levels yet! What would Labour do if there was an election before the end of this academic year, and she somehow managed to overturn the 8,183 majority gained by Conservative Tim Loughton in 2005 since, under their own proposals, they think that everyone should stay at school until after A-levels. That would be hypocritical - but nothing new for Labour. Also, what would they do if a snap election was called? Emily Benn can't stand for at least the next two weeks, not until she actually turns 18.

To field an eighteen year old in a parliamentary election is the height of idiocy and wrong on almost every level. An eighteen year old is not an appropriate person to represent a constituency at parliament, no matter who their grandfather - and uncle - are. They have no life experience at all, something her biography on her website shows. She hasn't even left school yet, for crying out loud! Neither she or any other 18 year-old are capable of being an MP. They ability for them to stand should exist, but no serious political party should ever select them at such a tender age.

Image: Emily Benn's Blog
Sources: BBC, The Guardian, The Times