Don’t mention Enoch

Ioannes Hiberniensis

An "oppportunist"? What an extraordinary comment. I would have thought that opportunist was the last thing one would call Enoch Powell. The man's life is a textbook case in how to destroy one's career through truth-telling.

JohnC

The very best article todate I have read on the true nature of the sorry current state of public discussion about immigration. You have hit the nail on the head, political dicourse only using PC grammer, any deviation or use of the word Enoch! you are branded a racist, xenophobic, Nazi sympathiser. Being married to an Asian(lady), how sad I feel compelled to preface this statement on uncontrolled immigration before going public about its impact on social cohesion,stress on public services due to Central Government in denial to the reality of the numbers already here. The travisty for me about 10 years of Labour is how our service personnel are dying in foreign fields to "protect" our way of life while at home an open door policy allows untold numbers in to create this multicultural Nivahna and the greatest upheaval in our population mix since the Saxon,Viking raids of the post Roman era. Enoch Powell was an arrogant brilliant intellectual who valued absolute truth and rigerous logic but moved in the toxic enviroment of politics, where mendacity and obsfucation is the norm.

L Stewart

Mr Liddle is right in everything he says, including advice on immigration to each & every Tory hopeful that "there is almost nothing you can say about it which will be risk-free - so better by far just shut your mouth and not mention it at all." Of course, our Ron may be 'tongue in cheek', but most typical New Conservatives will do just that. Let's not damage our gracefully ageing or shiny new careers. Leave it to the BNP to say it all, they don't have fabulous salaries and wonderful allowances to lose. Principles ? Concern for the very destruction of the British nation ? Please. Don't be so naive.

Noela Fraser

What a mess the UK is in because politicians no longer consider the views of the people they are supposed to represent. A plague on them all.

Bill Cass

A fine article and some highly interesting comments. Enoch Powell was by no means a political opportunist.For those who can remember,he was making highly controversil speeches for many years before 1968 and even those like me who at the time rarely agreed with him found him usually at least intersting and always very precise in his use of words.Speaking as someone who has been in a mixed marriage and whose own children are a very attractive ethnic cocktail,I can claim at least not to be racist even as I acknowledge that on many issues Powell has proved right.It seems to me that there is an underlying racism in those who refuse to discuss an issue openly - as if it touches some deep guilt feelings they would prefer not to explore. On a course in France in the early eighties, I found myself the only white guest at an all- night drinks party thrown by a large group of black students from various parts of Africa.It was not until the early hours of the morning that I realised I was the only white guest when I found myself defending some actions of the Empire.In this position, I accused my hosts themselves of being racist and asked why there were no other white guests.The reply: You are the only one who just says what you believe without embarrassment. I think we would all prefer honest discussion to furtive PC.

Robert James Watkins

Couldn't agree more. I have e-mailed the local Conservative Association to complain. David Cameron should be ashamed of himself. I only wish I was as literate as Ron Liddle, and capable of putting my opinion (and that of most of my friends and work colleagues)more strongly without being offensive.

Ollamh Fodhla

Politics used to be War by other means, Jaw-Jaw, Sticks n Stones...; now it is about self-censorship, evading the shocking truth, spin (sorry deception) and touchy-feely inuendo. The Tory high command, by its sacking of two honest candidates who only articulate, in moderate language, what the reasonable voters are telling them, is only encouraging massive native Celto-Saxon frustration and future horrible Civil War. Sack the Camerooons instead!

Afagddu

Excellent article, and some very timely (if depressing) comment from Richard Dell, Chingford Man, John C etc. The task of emasculated policitians is made infinitely easier with the aid of a collusive and mendacious press and media. In my opinion the BBC has much to answer for. Typically, it "addresses" awkward questions relating to its own betrayal of the public interest by invoking derogations which effectively dismiss such questions as inadmissible. So much for openness and accountability.

Rosemary Gitsham

Nigel Hastilow was quite right, and so was Enoch Powell all those years ago. It is the fault of the government which has let this country get in such a mess. You cannot blame the immigrants, illegal or legal for trying to get a better life in a country that bends over backwards to give them all they need. But the Government should consider the needs of its indigenous citizens before those of the wider world.