UK: Race row over Conservative leaflet
LONDON: A Conservative leaflet for the May 3 local election in the London borough of Havering has revived memories of Enoch Powell’s infamous 1968 “rivers of blood” speech, sparking criticism from inside and outside the party.
Powell’s speech was made in the context of concerns at the time about immigration from India and the Commonwealth.
The leaflet issued by the local Conservative councillors sought to caution voters against supporting the Labour Party, claiming that Havering was “in danger”, next to photos of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and London mayor Sadiq Khan.
It suggests that if Labour were elected in the council, not only would taxes rise but people should get ready for “Havering resembling boroughs like Hackney, Newham, Camden and Barking, rather than a traditional part of Essex”.
Binita Mehta-Parmar, a Conservative candidate in Watford and a director of centre-right campaign Modern Britain, said Powell’s legacy was reflected in the leaflet: “It deeply saddens me to say that his legacy lives on almost 50 years later.”
“Convincing those who assume Tories are not for them is key to us regaining a majority government when the time comes. However, this Havering leaflet conveys exactly the wrong message and will be used by our political opponents to demonstrate that we are willing to use race to win votes,” she added.