"At the very least he could create a right - wing force in British politics which would make the National Front look like very small beer indeed? Powell in full flow last week-'he came up with a clear and viable strategy for challenging the invitable drift towards British withdrawal from Ireland' as well as Enoch Powell's decision to foul his nest in the Tory Party was probably the most under-rated event of the last general election. It has been estimated that his call for a vote for Labour may have lost the Tories up to eight seats in the Midlands, It was certainly not an idle boast when he a carefully thought out plan, and his break with the Tories was a move towards constructing a new political base.
NEXT STEP Thursday was the next step in that plan. Speaking from the platform from which Sir Edward Carson Inunched the struggle against Home Kule, he told the loyalists That the result of the General Election had put the anti-Sunningthan they had been in since Direct Rale, claimed to have brought Heath down.
This all seems to have been part of His speech at the Uister Hall last dale deal.
dale Unionists in a stronger position with Britain.
That they should signal a new That their "betrayal" by successive forces That they must aim to achieve complete integration into the United ever the posibility of a united Ireland. not a strong political position, If he demand equality of representation at That having achieved integration they must then play a full part in the tub-thumging by loyalist demagogues inevitable drift of British imperialism towards a withdrawal from Ireland.
He suggests that the loyalists should cease to be provincial reactionaries, and play their full part in constructing an all-Britain reactionary alliance against the current strategy of British capitalism. The leader of this alliance could, of course, thir century, only be 1, Enoch Powell (possibly representing a Northern Ireland constituency as a Unionist Mi'):
VAST ADVANTAGES For the loyalists this has vast advantages. They have exhausted all forms of opposition without seccess.
Despite the loyalist victory at the general election, the Labour, Tory and Liberal leaders are still determined to push through the Sunning Nor have the loyalists been able to bourgeoisie to push back the gains throw up a firm leadership. Harry West wants the return of the old Stormont Parliament, William Crig wants an independent "Ulster', and Ian Paisley wants full integration Since none of the three could take over authoritative leadership, I would not he surprising if they were to turn to a powerful Bonapartist figure, who could unite them by balancing between the different For Powell the advantages would: be equally important. His twin policies of racism and opposition to the EBC have won him a base of'a sort, especially in the Midlands, but can link up with the Ulster loyalists, and other elements like the protestant the wur effort in freind bigots in Scotland and the north west of England, be will extend this base.
In the context of the present frag mentation of reprosentation at West minster be could construct an impor- not solely in the interests ef the Irish tant parliamencury bloc, this is the Northern ireland representation.
Of course Powell would be attack- BOB PURDIE ing a strategy which has underpinned the policies of British Governments for more than two decades. But he wowld aiso be constructing the only coherent, and politient important aime right polirical bloe in Britiah polirica since the Tory opponents of Home Raie in the early part of RIGHT-WING FORCE It would be an allance on the fringes of British capitalist secicty:
the yearners for the Empire, the Jumpen racists, the sweepings of the Orange Louges. But it could hape to appeal to those clements within the Army who are unwilling to accept the Implied defeat of a withdrawal from Ireland, and the 'new right in the anti porn, anti-sexual freedom lobby.
The long struggle by the British made by the working class in fifty years of organised strugele continues to be frustrated, Powell is probably gambling that the present chronic crisis will burst into a deadly infama. tion and that a re-orientation by the capitalist clasa could resuit in his being called to power. But he cannot hope for this unless he tirst has a solid political hase.
The danger must be taken serious.
ly. At the very least Powell could create a right-wing force within British politics which would maxe the National Front look like very small beer indeed.
There is only one way to strangle this reactionary alliance at birth and that as to buld a movement in Britain strong cough to undermine To force a withdrawal of the British Anny from Ireland, under the twin hammer blows of the IRA and a massive campaign in Britain, is struggle, but more than even before is a pre-requisite for advance by the British working class