Abstract
The aim of this chapter is to consider the most complex relationship of the Heath era within the Conservative Party politics, that is, the relationship between the Heath and Enoch Powell, and the challenge that emerged from the politics of Powellism. The chapter opens by identifying the cult of Powell, by assessing his conduct in the General Election campaign of 1970. Not only did the press afford Powell the level of coverage that was normally reserved only for party leaders, but the unexpected victory of the Conservatives could be linked to the appeal of Powellism. The chapter justifies this claim by utilising the academic research that argued that Powell(ism) tapped into latent anti-immigration feeling and was a contributing factor to the swing from Labour to Conservatives, especially amongst working-class voters (the chapter also explores the fears within Conservative circles that had they lost the General Election of 1970 and Heath had resigned, how could they stop Powell from gaining the party leadership).
I am grateful especially to the Bodleian Library for help with the Heath papers and with the Conservative Party Archive and to Churchill College, Cambridge, for access to the Powell papers and the Wolff papers. I am also immensely grateful to Mr Michael McManus for discussions about Heath and Powell, and to Lord Hunt for discussing his role at the 1972 Conservative Conference and its aftermath.
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Notes
- 1.
The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), which had been founded in 1958, became an important forum for exploring the application of free market ideas to policy, and it regularly brought together sympathetic politicians, journalists and academics. Powell was a friend of the IEA chairman Ralph Harris and often participated in IEA activities.
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Peele, G. (2021). Heath, Powell and the Battle for the Soul of the Conservative Party. In: Roe-Crines, A.S., Heppell, T. (eds) Policies and Politics Under Prime Minister Edward Heath. Palgrave Studies in Political Leadership. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53673-2_12
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