 Benn did not stand at the 2001 general election , saying he was " leaving parliament in order to spend more time on politics . " Along with Edward Heath , Benn was permitted by the Speaker to continue using the House of Commons Library and Members ' refreshment facilities . Shortly after his retirement , he became the president of the Stop the War Coalition . He became a leading figure of the British opposition to the War in Afghanistan from 2001 and the Iraq War , and in February 2003 he travelled to Baghdad to meet Saddam Hussein . The interview was shown on British television . 
