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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/03/emily-benn-alex-salmond-take-back-tony-syrian-airstrikes
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Emily Benn tells Alex Salmond: take back your comments about my grandfather Tony | Emily Benn tells Alex Salmond: take back your comments about my grandfather Tony |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Hilary Benn’s niece has asked Alex Salmond to retract his comments about the shadow foreign secretary’s late father. | Hilary Benn’s niece has asked Alex Salmond to retract his comments about the shadow foreign secretary’s late father. |
| Salmond, the former Scottish National party leader, said Tony Benn would be spinning in his grave over his son’s support for airstrikes in Syria. | Salmond, the former Scottish National party leader, said Tony Benn would be spinning in his grave over his son’s support for airstrikes in Syria. |
| Related: Syria airstrikes: Britain launches 'offensive operation' after vote to bomb Isis targets – live updates | Related: Syria airstrikes: Britain launches 'offensive operation' after vote to bomb Isis targets – live updates |
| He compared Hilary Benn’s much-praised speech to the House of Commons on Wednesday with one delivered in the same venue by Benn Sr in 1992 about the previous year’s Gulf war. | He compared Hilary Benn’s much-praised speech to the House of Commons on Wednesday with one delivered in the same venue by Benn Sr in 1992 about the previous year’s Gulf war. |
| Social media was flooded with messages both abusive and supportive of the shadow foreign secretary following his passionate address to the Commons, which was greeted by virtually unprecedented applause in the chamber from Conservatives as well as some Labour MPs. | Social media was flooded with messages both abusive and supportive of the shadow foreign secretary following his passionate address to the Commons, which was greeted by virtually unprecedented applause in the chamber from Conservatives as well as some Labour MPs. |
| Salmond told LBC radio: “I’ll tell you this. His father, whose speech I heard in the Iraq debate all these years ago … would be birling in his grave hearing a speech in favour of a Tory prime minister wanting to take the country to war. That’s just a reality.” | |
| In response, Emily Benn, Tony Benn’s granddaughter and a Labour councillor who has stood for the party in the past two general elections, tweeted: “Mr Salmond, Your comments are both deeply offensive and simply untrue. I hope you reflect and retract them.” | In response, Emily Benn, Tony Benn’s granddaughter and a Labour councillor who has stood for the party in the past two general elections, tweeted: “Mr Salmond, Your comments are both deeply offensive and simply untrue. I hope you reflect and retract them.” |
| Emily Benn had previously asked for a retraction from another SNP MP, George Kerevan, who also suggested that Tony Benn “must be turning in his grave” over his son’s pro-war stance. | Emily Benn had previously asked for a retraction from another SNP MP, George Kerevan, who also suggested that Tony Benn “must be turning in his grave” over his son’s pro-war stance. |
| Related: Tony Benn’s granddaughter delivers blow to Corbyn by calling for policy chief to go | Related: Tony Benn’s granddaughter delivers blow to Corbyn by calling for policy chief to go |
| Her protests drew a mixed reaction from Twitter users. One told her: “I’d be appalled if a family member was acting as a pawn of government … Murderer.” Another asked: “Has hilarybennmp joined the tories yet? He is a disgrace and should be expelled from Labour.” | Her protests drew a mixed reaction from Twitter users. One told her: “I’d be appalled if a family member was acting as a pawn of government … Murderer.” Another asked: “Has hilarybennmp joined the tories yet? He is a disgrace and should be expelled from Labour.” |
| A more supportive message read: “Hilary Benn has his own mind and his own beliefs. Tony Benn would be very proud. Great speech!” | A more supportive message read: “Hilary Benn has his own mind and his own beliefs. Tony Benn would be very proud. Great speech!” |