Entry into politics Enoch Powell

1 entry politics

1.1 joining conservative party
1.2 election parliament
1.3 first years backbencher

entry politics

joining conservative party

though voted labour party in 1945 landslide victory, because wanted punish conservative party munich agreement, after war joined conservatives , worked conservative research department under rab butler, colleagues included iain macleod , reginald maudling.

powell s ambition viceroy of india crumbled in february 1947, when prime minister clement attlee announced indian independence imminent. powell shocked change of policy spent whole night after announced walking streets of london. came terms becoming fiercely anti-imperialist, believing once india had gone whole empire should follow it. logical absolutism explained later indifference suez crisis, contempt commonwealth , urging britain should end remaining pretence world power.

election parliament

after unsuccessfully contesting labour party s ultra-safe seat of normanton @ by-election in 1947 (when labour majority 62%), elected conservative member of parliament (mp) wolverhampton south west in 1950 general election.

first years backbencher

on 16 march 1950, powell made maiden speech, speaking on white paper on defence , beginning saying, there no need me pretend feelings of awe , hesitation assail hon. member rises address house first time....

on 3 march 1953, powell spoke against royal titles bill in house of commons. said found 3 major changes style of united kingdom, of seem me evil . first 1 in title, first time, recognised principle hitherto never admitted in country, namely, divisibility of crown . powell said unity of realm had evolved on centuries , included british empire: unit because had 1 sovereign. there 1 sovereign: 1 realm . feared recognising division of realm separate realms, not opening way other remaining unity-–the last unity of all—that of person, go way of rest?

the second change objected suppression of word british , both before words realms , territories replaced words other , before word commonwealth , which, in statute of westminster, described british commonwealth of nations :

to monarch of territory , other realms , territories king of kingdom. have perpetrated solecism in title proposing attach our sovereign , have done out of might called abject desire eliminate expression british . same desire has been felt... eliminate word before term commonwealth ... why it, then, anxious, in description of our own monarch, in title use in country, eliminate reference seat, focus , origin of vast aggregate of territories? why teeming womb of royal kings , shakespeare called it, wishes anonymous?

powell claimed answer because british nationality act 1948 had removed allegiance crown basis of citizenship , replaced 9 separate citizenships combined statute. therefore, if of these 9 countries became republics law not change, happened india when became republic. furthermore, powell went on, essence of unity parts recognise sacrifice interests of whole . denied there in india recognition of belonging greater whole involves ultimate consequence in circumstances of self-sacrifice in interests of whole . therefore, title head of commonwealth , third major change, sham. have invented blind ourselves reality of position .

these changes repugnant powell:

...if changes demanded in many wars had fought country, nations maintained allegiance crown, , signified desire in future in past; if our friends had come , said: want this, say: let go. let admit divisibility of crown. let sink anonymity , cancel word british our titles. if conundrum head of commonwealth in royal style, let there . however, underlying evil of doing sake not of our friends of not our friends. doing sake of whom names britain , british repugnant.... doing sake of have deliberately cast off allegiance our common monarchy.

for rest of life, powell regarded speech finest ever delivered, not more well-known 1968 anti-immigration speech.

in mid-november 1953 powell secured place on 1922 committee s executive after third time of trying. rab butler invited him onto committee reviewed party policy general election, attended until 1955. powell member of suez group of mps against removal of british troops suez canal because such move demonstrate, powell argued, uk no longer maintain position there , claim suez canal therefore illogical. however, after troops had left in june 1956 , egyptians nationalised canal month later, powell opposed attempt retake canal in suez crisis because thought british no longer had resources world power.