Andrew Bennett was an independently minded democratic socialist with strong environmental credentials and a dry sense of humour. In the 1979 general election he was defending a majority of more than 1,800 in Stockport North, and I went to campaign for him.
At the shops we encountered several mature women of a particular religious disposition who were exercised about the very existence of the Abortion Act. Andrew was known to have supported its passing, and opposed efforts to diminish or tighten its provisions.
When surrounded by dozens of loud and excited critics he stood on some nearby steps, silenced the noise by speaking quietly in his rather fluty voice, looked straight at the group and said: “I completely assure you ladies that I respect your views and will continue with all the power at my command to permanently oppose compulsory abortion.” Calm returned. The crowd dispersed. We got on with campaigning. Andrew held the seat by 333 votes.
Neil Kinnock
The concern that Andrew Bennett displayed for access and the countryside took political form in the skill with which he stubbornly objected to pernicious private bills. This tactic forced debates in the Commons and by this means in 1988 he saw off the Lyndhurst Bypass bill, which would have destroyed part of what was later to become the New Forest National Park, and a decade later the Bodmin Moor Commons bill, which threatened public access to this splendid Cornish moorland.
He was a wonderful teacher too, schooling us in how to collar our MPs at their surgeries and leave them with a note of what we wanted them to do.
Kate Ashbrook
