 Both of Benn 's grandfathers were Liberal MPs ; his paternal grandfather was John Benn , a successful politician , MP for Tower Hamlets and later Devonport , who was created a baronet in 1914 ( and who founded a publishing company , Benn Brothers ) , and his maternal grandfather was Daniel Holmes , MP for Glasgow Govan . Benn 's contact with leading politicians of the day dates back to his earliest years ; he met Ramsay MacDonald when he was five , whom he described as : " A kindly old gentleman [ who ] leaned over me and offered me a chocolate biscuit . I 've looked at Labour leaders in a funny way ever since . " Benn also met David Lloyd George when he was 12 and later recalled that , while still a boy , he once shook hands with Mahatma Gandhi . This was in 1931 , while his father was Secretary of State for India . 
