Enoch Powell. Michael Foot. Nye Bevan. Tony Benn.

[Brennus]

InsaneApache's thread on the death of Margaret Thatcher has provoked much debate. However, I wanted to ask people's opinion on these highly enigmatic and provocative figures in post-war British politics.

[Gaius Scribonius Curio]

Not having studied recent British history, largely through a lack of interest, and since they were long before my time, all I can say on the subject of Enoch Powell is that he fundamentally misrepresents the intent of the Vergilian line: bella, horrida bella|et Thybrim multo spumante sanguine cerno. The tragedy of the line is in the fratricidal nature of the civil war between two sections of the elite, which was fresh in the memory of Vergilius' elite audience, rather than conflict between what Powell clearly viewed as two separate communities defined by race.

Since the point of the 'Rivers of Blood' speech was to decry immigration, implying that immigrants are not part of British society, the quotation is completely inappropriate: clearly he was just pandering to his audience with an 'epic' line and showing off his education and wealth...

[LittleGrizzly]

They were mostly before my time...

Benn I generally have a good impression off, without looking it up I would struggle to tell you much he has actually done though.

Enoch Powell I only really know of him through the rivers of blood speech, a bit controversial though in fairness he wasn't a million miles away with the estimate he made.

My knowledge of Foot is bordering on the invisible so I went into his wiki article. This line caught my attention Throughout his political career he railed against the increasing corporate domination of the press, entertaining a special loathing for Rupert Murdoch. That alone makes the man a genius ahead of his time for me...

Saved the best for last Bevan, created the NHS and resigned because they had to introduce charging for prescriptions. Doesn't seem hugely ideologically opposed to my own views (which is strange for a politician with some success) The only one of the four I know a good bit about without needing to look up stuff (for memory or to learn for the first time)

[HoreTore]

Never heard of any of them.

Since they're brits, that's probably because they're all booring as hell.

[Kralizec]

Enoch Powell is the only one I've heard of before.

He put forward an example of a white British women who offered rooms in her house for rent but didn't want any coloured people as customers as a victim of anti-discrimination laws. Actually I think that while "the government" shouldn't discriminate and should respect human rights it's a valid discussion point to what extent the same should apply to private persons.

Frankly, I find it hard to believe that there were no other UK politicians in the decades 60 - 70 who called for a stricter immigration policy. Powell probably only stood out by virtue of his colourful language, and was subsequently the only one to be remembered ages later. I don't know enough about him to give a final opinion, but it seems to me that both the notion that he was a racist and the notion that he was some sort of visionary are somewhat misplaced. But his words have become something of rallying cry for genuine racists and if he was seriously bothered by that, I suspect he could have done more to prevent it.

[Gaius Scribonius Curio]

Enoch Powell is the only one I've heard of before.

He put forward an example of a white British women who offered rooms in her house for rent but didn't want any coloured people as customers as a victim of anti-discrimination laws. Actually I think that while "the government" shouldn't discriminate and should respect human rights it's a valid discussion point to what extent the same should apply to private persons.

Frankly, I find it hard to believe that there were no other UK politicians in the decades 60 - 70 who called for a stricter immigration policy. Powell probably only stood out by virtue of his colourful language, and was subsequently the only one to be remembered ages later. I don't know enough about him to give a final opinion, but it seems to me that both the notion that he was a racist and the notion that he was some sort of visionary are somewhat misplaced. But his words have become something of rallying cry for genuine racists and if he was seriously bothered by that, I suspect he could have done more to prevent it.

Indeed, I seem to remember that, though he was forced to resign over the 'Rivers of Blood' speech in which he gave the example above, it was cited as providing a vital boost to the Conservative party in the subsequent election...