Sunday, January 11, 2009

Emily Benn

From the Times Online:
"On her selection as the Labour candidate for East Worthing and Shoreham, aged 17, her achievement was overshadowed by cries of nepotism. For, if you haven’t yet gathered, Emily Benn, now 19, is the latest member of the Benn family to enter the political fray. Her grandfather is Tony Benn, her uncle the Right Honourable Hilary Benn MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and no fewer than four previous generations of her family have been MPs. And if Gordon Brown calls an election this year, she looks set to be the youngest ever candidate to fight for a seat in Parliament.

While studying for her A levels at St Olave’s Grammar School in Kent, Emily heard about the vacancy for a Labour candidate in East Worthing and Shoreham from a friend at the Royal College of Music, which she attended at weekends. Without consulting her family, she put down her name. Only when she was selected as a possible candidate did Emily break the news to them."


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