Powell, the Conservative MP for Wolverhampton South West and Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, was addressing the general meeting of the West Midlands Area Conservative Political Centre. According to most accounts, the popularity of Powell's perspective on immigration may have been a decisive factor in the Conservatives' surprise victory in the 1970 general election, although he became one of the most persistent opponents of the subsequent Heath government. The speech caused a political storm, making Powell one of the most talked about and divisive politicians in the country it led to his controversial dismissal from the Shadow Cabinet by Conservative Party Leader Edward Heath. The former name alludes to a line from Virgil's Aeneid which Powell quoted:Īs I look ahead, I am filled with foreboding like the Roman, I seem to see 'the River Tiber foaming with much blood'. It became known as the "Rivers of Blood" speech, although Powell always referred to it as "the Birmingham speech". His speech strongly criticised mass immigration, especially Commonwealth immigration to the United Kingdom and the proposed Race Relations Act. The " Rivers of Blood" speech was made by British Member of Parliament (MP) Enoch Powell on 20 April 1968, to a meeting of the Conservative Political Centre in Birmingham, England. For the monument, see River of Blood (monument).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |