One for the shopping list: "Enoch at 100: a re-evaluation of the life, politics and philosophy of Enoch Powell.""Enoch Powell was, until the rise of Margaret Thatcher, the most famous politician in Britain" wrote Charles Moore last week (because of this speech, probably the most intentionally misreported, misquoted and misunderstood speech ever, even more so than 'there is no such thing as society') and today Adrian Hilton opens with a simialrity between the two, "The very mention of the name of Enoch Powell still divides the firmaments." 'June 2012 marks the centenary of the birth of John Enoch Powell, one of Britain's most colourful and controversial politicians. Although he never gained high office he was, throughout his career, one of the most popular politicians in the country. In 2003 Powell was voted the 55th greatest britain ever' (from archived biography, speeches and bibliography: click on image). Like anyone, Enoch was wrong about a couple of things but unlike most people he was so right about so much more. So true the closing sentence of Adrian's brief review: "But what manner of failure is it when the name of Enoch eclipses every Tory politician of the 20th century, excepting those of Winston and Margaret?"
"All I know is that to see, and not to speak, would be the great betrayal".
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