LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Letters from Brian Inglis, Roger Scruton, L. E. Weidberg, Porcus- Piscis Orielensis and others.
A Powellite triumph
Sir: You are to be congratulated on your assessment (6 March) of the contribution of Enoch Powell to the Immigration Bill and on your balanced judgment of the Bill itself.
You state that for what he has done Mr Powell may well continue to be excluded from office and you are, alas, probably right. In saying that making a greater contribution to political change from the back- benches than from the front is small consolation for an ambitious politician you underestimate the qualities of Enoch Powell who, although ambitious, has always put the national interest, as he sees it, before his own.
The present Government suf- fered a serious loss with the un- timely death of Iain Macleod and the evidence of the past months indicates that the front bench is' not exactly awash with talent. A courageous and astute leader should not allow any personal differences to deprive him of such high-powered ability which, in any case, would be more effectively under his control in his Govern- ment. Edward Heath is both cour- ageous and astute whatever his critics may say. He has moreover the example of Winston Churchill to guide him. It took a war to restore him to his rightful place.
Enoch Powell's contribution to the present Bill which you have outlined presents the Prime Minis- ter with an ideal opportunity to reward him with a seat in his Cabinet. With so many storms ahead, and already breaking over him, the captain could do with more first-class officers and fewer cabin-boys.
Ian Harvey 43a Lonsdale Road, London wl 1
Previous page
