Shame on “The Sage Of Sussex” Adam Trimingham in his criticism of Tony Benn (The Argus, March 19). I did not support Benn’s politics in general but he was a man of principle, unlike more recent Labour politicians.

In particular I’m thinking of Blair and his cronies, who proved to be slightly to the right of Margaret Thatcher after the 1997 election when cosying up to George W Bush for the war in Iraq and betraying Labour’s post-war heritage of the National Health Service and the Welfare State.

Tony Benn spoke the truth fearlessly as he saw it and Adam Trimingham should eat his journalistic words. He does himself and his profession great harm by jumping on the bandwagon of those who attempt to discredit a great man.

Roger Hudson, Devonshire Place, Eastbourne