Powell ‘unknown’ to new generation
THE people of the West Midlands have moved on from the era of Enoch Powell, a survey to mark 50 years since his notorious ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech has found.
And attitudes have shifted most among young people, with 90 per cent saying they would be comfortable with their child marrying someone of a different race.
Thousands of people across the UK were polled for the report called Many Rivers Crossed, which looked at attitudes to race relations half a century on from the former Wolverhampton MP’s landmark speech at Birmingham’s Midland Hotel on April 20, 1968, in which he warned of the perils of mass immigration.
While there may be concerns about views in other parts of the country, the West Midlands, which has seen several waves of immigration, is more positive about the impact.
Researchers for the thinktank British Future, carried out an opinion poll as well as more indepth interviews with people in Wolverhampton, Dudley and Erdington to gauge the mood.
They found eight in ten people in the West Midlands (79 per cent) would now be comfortable with their child or grandchild marrying someone of another race, rising to 90 per cent of those aged 18-24.
However, researchers also found that racism and prejudice, while confined to a minority, are still prevalent as 15 per cent of ethnic minorities had experienced racial, ethnic or religiousbased prejudices directed at them on social media, a quarter had encountered prejudice in the workplace, and 35 per cent had experienced it in the street or on public transport.
The majority of those surveyed across the West Midlands agree, however, that we are less prejudiced today than in 1968, including two-thirds of over 65s who are old enough to remember what it was like in the aftermath of Powell’s speech.
While attitudes to Britain’s Muslim citizens remain broadly positive, they still lag behind those towards other minorities.
Seven in ten people in the region would be comfortable with their child marrying someone of the Muslim faith.
The findings of the survey have been welcomed, particularly here in the West Midlands.
British Future director Sunder Katwala said: “The West Midlands has moved on from Rivers of Blood. Today, Enoch Powell’s name means little to those who have grown up in a society where racial mixing is the norm.
“Older generations remember Enoch and the storm he caused here and across Britain.
“Some have found the pace of change too much since 1968 and may still agree with what he said. But there’s also a pride in their kids and grandchildren growing up without the prejudices of the 60s and 70s.
“While most people recognise that Britain is less prejudiced than in Powell’s day, racism and prejudice haven’t gone away.
“Our researchers heard stories of racial and anti-Muslim prejudice, some of it directed at young children. We have come a long way but there is still much further to go.”
Dudley Labour MP Ian Austin said: “The contrast between Enoch Powell’s terrible predictions and the reality of life in the West Midlands could not be more stark. People have come from all over the world, from different backgrounds and cultures to work together and build a better society and stronger communities for us all.
“Powell’s defenders say he was simply voicing concerns about immigration but it’s just not true. No one would have objected if he’d said immigration can put pressure on schools, housing or hospitals. There’s nothing racist about that. What Powell aimed to do was divide communities based on the colour of people’s skin.”
“Populist parties and politicians, Powell included, often claim to be speaking for the people, ‘saying what people are thinking but not allowed to say.’ The best response is to let people speak for themselves.”
The contrast between Enoch Powell’s terrible predictions and the reality of life in the West Midlands could not be more stark MP Ian Austin