Arthur Scargill, the militant leader of the National Union of Miners, will spend his last day in the office of President today.

The 64 year old Barnsley born miner is likely to be remembered for leading the country's miners out on strike in 1984. It became the most bitter industrial dispute in Britain's history.

Nearly two decades on, Britain's coal industry has shrunk to nothing.

And the break-away socialist party which Scargill set up failed to make a dent on Peter Mandelson's majority at the last general election.

So, what will be Arthur Scargill's legacy? Breakfast spoke to veteran Labour politician Tony Benn.

"When you look back on it all, Arthur will be seen as a man of principle," said Benn, who retired as Labour MP for Chesterfield at the last election.

"He didn't pick the miners' strike in 1984 when the winter was over and coal stocks were high. Mrs Thatcher did."

Benn concedes that Scargill made mistakes - notably, forming his own party, the Socialist Labour Party.

He adds: "He was the most villified man I have ever known...

"..people who are villified often turn out to be right."

click here to watch our interview in full with Tony Benn

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