Enoch Powell blue plaque plan prompts a flurry of threats
‘We normally place plaques three metres high, but this would probably have to go four or five metres up’
A ROW has erupted over plans to commemorate the life and work of Enoch Powell with a blue plaque in Wolverhampton where he served as a Conservative MP.
The city’s Civic and Historical Society has received an application to honour the politician who caused outrage when he delivered his “Rivers of Blood” speech 50 years ago.
The move has already triggered threats that any plaque would be ripped down or defaced.
A panel of six members of the society will rule whether to commemorate the politician this year, the 20th anniversary of his death. Powell was 85 when he died in February 1998.
The father of two served as the Tory MP for Wolverhampton South West from 1950 to 1974.
His 1968 speech in Birmingham to a Conservative Association condemning a large influx of immigrants prompted a political storm and made him one of Britain’s most divisive politicians of the 20th Century. It also led to his sacking from Edward Heath’s shadow cabinet.
Now, Wolverhampton Civic and Historical Society has revealed that it has received a promise of £1,000 to pay for the plaque. But if it receives approval they anticipate it could be targeted by vandals or become a focus for protests in the city.
Barry Hodgson, the society’s blue plaques secretary, said: “We know it’s going to be a bit more sensitive than the average plaque application.
“People are arguing that we shouldn’t celebrate this man’s life. However, my personal opinion is that we shouldn’t be sanitising our history. One of the criteria we will agonise over is the location for any such plaque.”
It is thought unlikely that Powell’s former family home in the Meridale area of the city could be used as a site because it would be targeted by vandals and disturb the present occupants. Instead, the committee anticipates it would have to find somewhere in Powell’s former constituency in a “very public place”, possibly overseen by CCTV.
“One person has already written on a blog that if we put it up he will take it down. It could well be a target for vandalism. But others have been supportive. We will have to think about security issues.
“If it was placed in a highly public place it’s unlikely it would be defaced. We normally place plaques three metres high, but this would probably have to go four or five metres up.”
A local paper, the Express & Star, carried out a poll and found nearly two thirds of its readers were in favour of commemorating his contribution to the city as its local MP.
A debate last month at the Wolverhampton Literature Festival about Powell’s controversial speech where it emerged the plaque was being considered attracted a handful of demonstrators.
Mr Hodgson stressed that if the plaque was approved it would be to record Powell’s contribution to the city and would not be intended to “glorify” his controversial speech.
“He certainly helped put Wolverhampton on the map, not necessarily for the best reasons,” Mr Hodgson added.
Wolverhampton currently has 103 plaques with 35 more being considered.
Consequently, the decision on any Powell plaque may not be made for at least six months.
The first plaque unveiled in 1983 celebrated George Bidlake, the 19th Century architect, who was born in Wolverhampton.