Photo by David Levenson/Getty Images In July 1977, Tony Benn and five other Labour MPs defied James Callaghan’s leadership by voting against the European Assembly Elections Bill. The rebellion prompted the writer James Fenton to wonder: what was it like to be Tony Benn? At about ten to eight last Friday morning a grey-haired gentleman, with features expressive of permanent surprise, could be seen walking along Holland Park Avenue, carrying a large bundle of newspapers. He was clearly engrossed in what he was reading, and a curious observer might have followed him all the way to his front door without arousing any suspicion. The eyes of the grey-haired gentleman searched hurriedly through each of the newspapers. They were plainly looking for something; and, when they found it, the something they were looking for was, as often as not, accompanied by a small photograph. From the small photograph a grey-haired gentleman gazed out at Holland Park Avenue, with features expressive of permanent surprise.…