Former Labour Party cabinet minister Tony Benn and granddaughter Emily Benn. Photo / Reuters
Former Labour Party cabinet minister Tony Benn and granddaughter Emily Benn. Photo / Reuters
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BOURNEMOUTH - A fifth generation of the Benn family, one of Britain's most famous dynasties, strode on to the national political stage when 17-year-old Emily spoke at the Labour Party conference.
Emily Benn is the youngest person selected as a British parliamentary candidate after the minimum age wasreduced to 18 from 21 last year.
She is the granddaughter of veteran left-winger and former Labour minister Tony Benn and the niece of Environment Secretary Hilary Benn. Tony Benn's father and grandfathers were also in Parliament.
She was selected for the East Worthing and Shoreham constituency, held by the Conservatives, on the south coast this month despite not yet being 18.
She appealed to Prime Minister Gordon Brown not to call a general election before her 18th birthday on October 4.
