Politicians and activists bade an emotional farewell to Tony Benn.

Onlookers clapped through tears as the body of the veteran Labour MP, who died on March 14 aged 88, was driven from the Palace of Westminster to St Margaret’s Church, Westminster, this morning.

Mr Benn, whose family home for more than 100 years was Stansgate Abbey Farm, in Steeple, was only the second politician after Baroness Thatcher to be allowed to rest overnight at the Palace of Westminster’ Chapel of St Mary Undercroft.

Representative from causes he supported during his 51-year political career lined the route, including Stop The War, the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign, trade unions and several opposing government cuts.

The funeral was followed by a private family cremation and a memorial meeting will be held later in the year.