5 The oratory of Enoch Powell
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Philip Norton
Abstract
Although he never held high office, Enoch Powell was without a doubt one of Britain’s most commanding and memorable orators, who would exert considerable influence on national political debate through the power of his words. For two decades, Powell was one of the most controversial politicians in Britain. He was one of the few public figures to be known by his first name and the only one in modern British politics to have large protest marches take place in his support. His public reputation derived from a particular speech he delivered in 1968 at the Midland Hotel, Birmingham, on the subject of immigration. That speech both made and destroyed him as a major political figure: it established his national standing, but denied him the opportunity to hold high office. His parliamentary reputation derived from a capacity to express himself in such a way as to set him aside from fellow parliamentarians. This chapter assesses Powell’s oratorical impact both in parliament and with the electorate more widely, arguing that whatever his other flaws, Powell was an outstanding orator, one of the best of his generation.
Abstract
Although he never held high office, Enoch Powell was without a doubt one of Britain’s most commanding and memorable orators, who would exert considerable influence on national political debate through the power of his words. For two decades, Powell was one of the most controversial politicians in Britain. He was one of the few public figures to be known by his first name and the only one in modern British politics to have large protest marches take place in his support. His public reputation derived from a particular speech he delivered in 1968 at the Midland Hotel, Birmingham, on the subject of immigration. That speech both made and destroyed him as a major political figure: it established his national standing, but denied him the opportunity to hold high office. His parliamentary reputation derived from a capacity to express himself in such a way as to set him aside from fellow parliamentarians. This chapter assesses Powell’s oratorical impact both in parliament and with the electorate more widely, arguing that whatever his other flaws, Powell was an outstanding orator, one of the best of his generation.
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations x
- Introduction 1
- 1 The oratory of Stanley Baldwin 14
- 2 The oratory of Winston Churchill 30
- 3 The oratory of Harold Macmillan 47
- 4 The oratory of Iain Macleod 62
- 5 The oratory of Enoch Powell 74
- 6 The oratory of Keith Joseph 87
- 7 The oratory of Margaret Thatcher 103
- 8 The oratory of Michael Heseltine 121
- 9 The oratory of John Major 137
- 10 The oratory of William Hague 150
- 11 The oratory of Boris Johnson 166
- 12 The oratory of David Cameron 182
- Conclusion 198
- Appendix 205
- Bibliography 208
- Index 226
Chapters in this book
- Front matter i
- Contents v
- Notes on contributors vii
- Acknowledgements ix
- List of abbreviations x
- Introduction 1
- 1 The oratory of Stanley Baldwin 14
- 2 The oratory of Winston Churchill 30
- 3 The oratory of Harold Macmillan 47
- 4 The oratory of Iain Macleod 62
- 5 The oratory of Enoch Powell 74
- 6 The oratory of Keith Joseph 87
- 7 The oratory of Margaret Thatcher 103
- 8 The oratory of Michael Heseltine 121
- 9 The oratory of John Major 137
- 10 The oratory of William Hague 150
- 11 The oratory of Boris Johnson 166
- 12 The oratory of David Cameron 182
- Conclusion 198
- Appendix 205
- Bibliography 208
- Index 226
