Tony Benn admitted to hospital

Veteran Labour figure Tony Benn has been admitted to hospital. The 88 year-old former MP was taken ill on Wednesday but the BBC reports he is in a “comfortable” condition and “hoped to be out” of hospital next week.

His 50 year career on the Labour benches included stints as a cabinet minister under Harold Wilson and James Callaghan. Since stepping down from the Commons in 2001 he has dedicated himself to a number of other political causes, notable anti-war campaigning.

His most recent activities include vocal opposition to intervention in Syria and a speaking appointment at the Edinburgh Festival, where he sported new facial hair. “To call it a beard seems rather generous”, he quipped.