Political beliefs Enoch Powell

powell delivered rivers of blood speech on 20 april 1968, poll taken after speech stated 74% of british people agreed powell s opinions on mass immigration. in trial of enoch powell, channel 4 television broadcast in april 1998, on thirtieth anniversary of rivers of blood speech (and 2 months after death), 64% of studio audience voted powell not racist. in church of england, of powell member, took different view. upon powell s death, barbados-born wilfred wood, bishop of croydon, stated, enoch powell gave certificate of respectability white racist views otherwise decent people ashamed acknowledge .

conservative commentator bruce anderson has claimed rivers of blood speech have come complete surprise had studied record: had been west midlands mp 18 years had said hardly immigration. on view, speech merely part of badly miscalculated strategy become party leader if heath fell. anderson adds speech had no effect on immigration, except make more difficult subject discussed rationally in polite society.

powell s opponents claimed far-right, fascist , racist. supporters claim first 2 charges clash voting record on social issues, such homosexual law reform (he co-sponsor of bill on issue in may 1965 , opposed death penalty, both reforms unpopular among conservatives @ time, kept low profile stance on these non-party issues of conscience ). powell voted against reinstitution of death penalty several times between 1969 , 1987.

by 1960s, powell in support campaign on immigration controls. earliest , statement powell on immigration in august 1956 @ wolverhampton, powell stated fundamental change in law necessary in british citizenship law, although explained change not needed @ time did not rule out possibility of future change. in late 1950s when other conservatives advocating campaign immigration control following race riots, powell declined join them remarking no discussing details when real issue of citizenship laws had remained unchanged. in november 1960, powell became 1 of 9 members of ministerial committee wanted introduce controls of commonwealth immigration, submitted letter in april 1961 stated if desire limitations or conditions on entry of coloured british subjects country change in existing legal definition of british subject needed since british nationality act of 1948 considered independent commonwealth countries listed under britain s nationality law british subjects.

concerns raised effects of coloured immigration in communities in constituency played part in commentary. in march 1968, month before rivers of blood speech, made first public references them in speech in walsall, when described concern of anonymous constituent daughter white child in primary school class , suffered bullying non-white pupils. when wolverhampton express , star journalists failed find child or class, paper s editor , personal friend, clement jones, challenged him, stating jones himself had similar anonymous complaints traced members of national front (nf). powell not accept explanation , told jones had received bags of supporting mail result of walsall speech.

during interview birmingham post, fortnight after powell s rivers of blood speech, asked whether or not racialist, replied:

what take racialist mean person believes in inherent inferiority of 1 race of mankind another, , acts , speaks in belief. answer question of whether racialist no – unless perhaps, in reverse. regard many of peoples in india being superior in many respects – intellectually example, , in other respects – europeans. perhaps over-reacting.

powell accepted invitation appear on david frost s evening television programme on 3 january 1969, frost asked powell whether or not racialist, powell replied:

it depends on how define word racialist. if mean being conscious of differences between men , nations, , that, races, racialists. however, if mean man despises human being because belongs race, or man believes 1 race inherently superior another, answer emphatically no.

during 1970 election, tony benn declared in speech powell s approach immigration evil , stated flag of racialism has been hoisted in wolverhampton beginning 1 fluttered on dachau , belsen. in response when television reporter told powell @ meeting of benn s comments snatched microphone , replied myself, in 1939 voluntarily returned australia country, serve private soldier against germany , nazism. same man today. similarly, powell responded student hecklers @ speech in cardiff: hope shouted fascist , nazi aware before born fighting against fascism , nazism.

in november 1968, powell suggested problems caused if there large influx of germans or russians britain serious – , in respects more serious – follow introduction of similar number of west indies or pakistanis .

powell stated views neither genetic or eugenic , never arranged fellow men on merit according origins.

powell stated in 1972 speech:

i have , set face flint against making difference between 1 citizen of country , on grounds of origins.

in 1944, when powell visiting poona member of joint intelligence committee, indian, general (later field marshal) k.m. cariappa, refused stay @ byculla club once became clear cariappa indian not allowed stay there. close friends recall powell took great pleasure in speaking urdu when dining @ indian restaurants.

nevertheless, powell s nationalism , accusations of racialism took fine line. in 1996 when bbc journalist michael cockerell asked him language used in rivers of blood speech, arguing used self-proclaimed racialists against non-whites. in defense of language used in speech, powell replied:

what s wrong racism? racism basis of nationality. nations are, upon whole, united identity 1 another, self-identification of our citizens, , s due similarities regarded racial differences.

powell further went on s not impossible s difficult, non-white person british.

powell s speeches , tv interviews throughout political life displayed suspicion towards establishment in general, , 1980s there regular expectation make sort of speech or act in way designed upset government , ensure not offered life peerage (and transferred house of lords), which, believe, had no intention of accepting long edward heath sat in commons. (heath remained in commons until after powell s death.) had opposed life peerages act , felt hypocritical accept life peerage himself since no prime minister ever offered him hereditary peerage.

according libertarian theorist murray rothbard, powellism seen proper step toward free markets in 1970s, writing there political strategy carries hope britain in foreseeable future: of dissident stormy petrel of british politics, enoch powell. decades of horrific british policies have created rigid, stratified, , cartellized economy, set of frozen power blocs integrated big government: namely, big business , big labor. cautious , gradualist of english libertarians admit radical political change can save england. enoch powell man on horizon sparkplug such change. true, of course, libertarians enoch powell has many deficiencies. 1 thing admitted high tory believes in divine right of kings; another, immigration policy reverse of libertarian. on critical issues in these parlous times: on checking inflationary rise in money supply, , on scuttling disastrous price , wage controls, powell far soundest politician in britain. sweep of enoch powell power hardly ideal, offers best existing hope british freedom , survival.

analysing powell @ 2016 meeting of property , freedom society, libertarian writer sean gabb said this:

yes, immigration part of story. large part, , return it. but, of british politicians in lifetime, systematic , consistent, , said immigration draws full meaning consideration of whole system.

his argument powell said - on economics, europe, foreign policy, immigration, , forth - should not seen in isolation, in context of view of britain specific entity existing through history. therefore, focus, either approvingly or disapprovingly, on views on immigration misunderstand enoch powell political thinker.