British MEP Strikes Again

[RedRalph]

One of the oddest inconsistencies of this man's life, despite his "rivers of blood" speech and obvious racism toward immigrants, that as Tory Minister of Health a few years before he was responsible for encouraging the huge influx of West Indian nurses and other medical staff to fill all the vacancies in the NHS. How many people, esp. Tories, remember that now.

All but the most ultra-fanatical biological racists are generally quite happy to have foreigners doing the jobs that the locals won't do.

 

[Flying Pig]

3... 2... 1...

NAZI!

I liked Enoch Powell for his guts in speaking his mind about immigraton, but to praise him and be anti-NHS is a bit too nazi for my tastes

 

[nonconformist]

 

[jessiecat]

All but the most ultra-fanatical biological racists are generally quite happy to have foreigners doing the jobs that the locals won't do.

The fact is, in the early 50s because of the war and emigration, there were NO locals to do the jobs. Thus the Brits welcomed everybody at first, even Paddies.

Then it all turned sour, and you start getting the signs in windows saying,

"NO Blacks, NO Irish, NO dogs".

Remember that, Flying Pig?

 

[Flying Pig]

Oh yes - ever heard McAlpine's Fusiliers, by that Irish band? My area was lucky in that we didn't have much work for foreigners, since our main industries were farming and mining, and you needed to be native to work in the pits.

 

[Enkidu Warrior]

One of the oddest inconsistencies of this man's life, despite his "rivers of blood" speech and obvious racism toward immigrants, that as Tory Minister of Health a few years before he was responsible for encouraging the huge influx of West Indian nurses and other medical staff to fill all the vacancies in the NHS. How many people, esp. Tories, remember that now.

He also spoke very powerfully against some of the excesses of British Imperialism. A selective reading of his biography could very well persuade you that he wasn't the bigot he turned out to be. He was a far right nutjob though, and not just for the racism. A few saving graces and an intimidating intellect don't make up for that.

 

[Flying Pig]

He does, also, hold the distinction of being one of two soldiers in recent times to have reached the rank of Brigadier

 

[Brighteye]

It's sad that he made it synonymous by spouting such bile. I'll certainly concede that Powell had many virtues that are understandably overlooked by most, but you can't seriously defend the man given the many vile things that he most certainly did do. I'd also add that you can't seriously suggest that this odious toff MEP didn't know exactly what would be understood by a British audience when he sung the praises of Enoch Powell.

I have no desire to support this Conservative, but Powell was a decent and principled man. There are plenty of right-wing lunatics who are far more odious: most of them, in fact, and plenty of left-wingers too.
Of course, I'm not old enough to be familiar with most of Powell's career.

He also spoke very powerfully against some of the excesses of British Imperialism. A selective reading of his biography could very well persuade you that he wasn't the bigot he turned out to be. He was a far right nutjob though, and not just for the racism. A few saving graces and an intimidating intellect don't make up for that.

As a nutjob he can't be as hateful as having his very name associated with racism. There are plenty of nutjobs far more deserving of this.

 

[Babbler]

All jokes aside, whatever his sickening politics, you would think this man would have some sense of self-preservation and not make these remarks

Maybe he's an attention whore at heart? After all, he getting a lot of attention from the media at home, across the Atlantic and elsewhere. Even iif the Tories kick him out of their caucus, could make a career as a newspaper columnist, television host, book author, etc.

I could see him moving across to the States and become Fox News's host for their international affairs news program, for example.

 

[Munch]

I could see him moving across to the States and become Fox News's host for their international affairs news program, for example.

Sadly I can also see that Fox News might well enjoy having him as a foreign affairs correspondent, British correspondent, etc. As you can see from the Glenn Beck incident he'd be more than happy to do it.

 

[EnglishEdward]

Enoch Powell was against capital punishment.

But this did not stop the rightwing skinheads from saying they supported
Enoch Powell because he would bring back hanging.

Enoch Powell pointed out that he was misunderstood, but this made not
a jot of difference. The fact is both his supporters and his opponents were
equally determined to believe in a mythical Enoch Powell, not the real person,
to respectively admire and condemn.