Tony Benn rapping at Glastonbury

Veteran socialist Tony Benn is all set to make a triumphant return to the Left Field stage at next week's Glastonbury Festival just a few days after confirming that he is releasing a rap album of some of his hard-hitting speeches.

Benn made his Glastonbury debut at the Left Field last year and hundreds of fans were unable to get in. Left Field organisers have bumped up capacity four-fold to give Glasto punters a fighting chance to hear the great man in action.

Tony Benn will be speaking in a debate on Blood for Oil at lunchtime on Saturday (28th June) and later that afternoon will be performing his musical set "The Writing on the Wall" with his comrade Roy Bailey.

Geoff Martin, Left Field Organiser, said today:

"The empathy that young people have for Tony Benn is extraordinary and must make boring, machine politicians like Blair and IDS squirm on their padded benches. You wouldn't catch them mixing it with the Glasto crowd and no-one would cross the field to see them anyway.

But anyone who still thinks that young people aren't interested in real politics and debate should drag themselves over to the Left Field next weekend. We'll nail that lie right before their eyes."

Tony Benn added:

"Glastonbury is a fantastic event. So many young people in a community which is self-governing and tolerant. It confirms my belief that, despite everything, humanity really does want to get on with itself. Michael Eavis is a genius for making it happen."

Tony Benn - Left Field, Glastonbury 2002
Other Left Field highlights include the premier of the Joe Strummer film "The Last Night London Burned" on Friday at 9pm, Mark Thomas and guests on Saturday at 6pm and Asian Dub Foundation followed by Billy Bragg at 6pm on Sunday. Debate, music and fair trade drinks with our partners from the Co-op group throughout the weekend.


For all the Glastonbury info, including detailed stage line-ups, click here.

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