MALCOLM BURNS witnesses Tony Benn's visit to Holyrood.
THE Scottish Parliament is much more open than Westminster. It's not just the architecture, although the chamber is much more in the round than the narrow, opposing benches in London.
It is open to the people, not just as visitors, but with its committee structure and petitions, and open to be addressed by non-members.
On Wednesday, Elaine Smith and Bill Butler, Scottish Labour left MSPs, invited Tony Benn to address the Parliament during the Time for Reflection slot.
It's like Thought for the Day, but often much more secular.
Cathy Jamieson, Jackie Baillie, Margaret Curran - and behind them, Malcolm Chisholm - gathered on the Labour benches. A decade ago, more actually, this would have been a left caucus at a Labour conference.
And then Tony Benn arrived.
Taking religion and politics as his theme, Mr Benn traced the Scottish roots of religious dissent in his own family.
"My great great grandfather was a Scottish steeplejack and a severe presbyterian," he said. "And my great granny believed - as a congregationalist - that everyone has a direct line to God. They didn't need bishops. That was a radical idea, and a revolutionary one."
"I learned that the bible conflicts are all between prophets and kings," he continued. "The teachings of Jesus are all about how we should live our lives. And I believe the Ten Commandments are a better guide to a good life than the Dow Jones average."
To a hearty round of applause, Mr Benn concluded his short speech by calling on today's politicians to "make the right decisions by listening to the prophets rather than the kings."
After the speech, committee room one was thronged with MSPs, friends and comrades for Tea with Tony, a spirited and much more political discussion led by Bill Butler and Ann Henderson of the STUC.
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