Enoch Powell blue plaque: Community leaders and politicians sign letter urging plans to be rejected
An open letter signed by notable figures across Wolverhampton has been published, calling for the Civic and Historical Society to reject the idea for a Blue Plaque in honour of ‘racist’ Enoch Powell.
The letter includes 95 signatures ranging from local and national politicians, faith communities’ academics and trade union representatives.
It has called the idea for a plaque to commemorate Powell’s connection with the city ‘wrong’ and added: “A person’s notoriety cannot, in itself, be sufficient reason for a plaque to be displayed. His contribution was destructive.”
Former Wolverhampton South West MP Enoch Powell’s “rivers of blood speech” was delivered in Birmingham 50 years ago.
Earlier this year the city’s Civic and Historical Society confirmed they received an application for the plaque to commemorate Powell’s life.
In an Express & Star poll of more than 20,000 people, 70 per cent of respondents backed the plaque.
Reverend Ray Gaston, who represents Black Country Stand up to Racism, co-ordinated the open letter.
He said: “The violence and racism that Powell’s speech clearly provoked must never be allowed to return to our streets, we will be seeking a meeting with the Civic and Historical Society to outline our views and continue to build a broad alliance of resistance to this dangerous proposal.”
Dr Shirin Hirsch, who is conducting a major research project at the University of Wolverhampton into the impact of Powell’s speech on local community relations, said the survivors of the racism resulting from Powell’s speech are often ignored in the ‘debates’ about the MP.
Rev Gatson added: “It is the voices of Black and Asian people that Dr Hirsch brings to light that we must listen to at this time.”
The subject of the blue plaque has proved controversial with the Bishop of Wolverhampton, the Rt Rev Clive Gregory, saying: “It is disingenuous to suggest that the conferring of a blue plaque on such a divisive figure would be a ‘neutral’ act.
"It would be widely interpreted as honouring Enoch Powell’s racist views.”
Councillor Roger Lawrence, leader of Wolverhampton council said ‘Powell’s legacy should be left in the history books’.
