Brendon Batson speaking out at event marking Enoch Powell speech
Former Baggies star Brendon Batson OBE is to speak at an event marking 50 years since Enoch Powell’s infamous ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech.
Batson, who was a member of West Bromwich Albion’s iconic Three Degrees alongside Cyrille Regis and Laurie Cunningham, will address a private audience on April 20 in the same hotel Enoch Powell used for his infamous speech in 1968.
The talk, at Birmingham’s Burlington Hotel, aims to showcase how the diverse communities of the Midlands reject Powell’s vision of ‘rivers of blood’ – and instead have turned to ‘rivers of love’.
Eleanor Smith, the MP who now holds Enoch Powell’s old Wolverhampton seat, Wolverhampton South West, will outline how the region has rejected Powell’s vision and embraced tolerance and diversity.
Birmingham City Council’s leader, Councillor Ian Ward, and MPs Shabana Mahmood and Preet Gill will also speak to attendees.
The event, which takes place just a day after a similar event organised by Dudley MP Ian Austin at the same venue, has been organised by the Midlands branch of the TUC.
Celebration
The TUC’s Midlands regional secretary, Lee Barron, said: “It’s clear that Enoch Powell lost.
“We mark the 50th anniversary of his infamous speech in celebration and appreciation of the wonderful diversity of our region.
The event will also see contributions from community representatives from across Birmingham, including a poem from the city’s current Poet Laurette, Matt Windle.
Mr Barron added: “Powell’s vision of ‘rivers of blood’ has clearly been rejected as our communities have instead embraced a vision of ‘rivers of love’ in creating a vibrant, tolerant and open society that is welcoming to all people.”
Brian O’Sullivan, from Stand up to Racism, said: “Powell spoke of immigration as an evil and used his speech to try and whip up racial hatred.
“But here we are in 2018 and people from different communities and religions work and live together and we will not let racism divide us’.”
Powell, who served as a Wolverhampton MP from February 1950 until February 1974, has been the subject of great debate ever since his speech 50 years ago.
A recent Express & Star poll found 70 per cent of more than 20,000 readers back a proposal for Powell to get a blue plaque in Wolverhampton.
Wolverhampton Civic Society, which deals with plaque applications, is to discuss the proposal in July.
