Enoch Powell - Any Questions - Basingstoke - 12th Nov 1976 скачать в хорошем качестве

Enoch Powell - Any Questions - Basingstoke - 12th Nov 1976

Report from Basingstoke Gazette The programme Any Questions? made the news in Basingstoke and beyond when windows at the United Reformed Church, in London Street, were smashed by stone-throwing demonstrators The fateful edition is the only one in the BBC Radio4 programme’s history which has had to stop recording midway because of demonstrators. On the panel for that notorious edition was the Bishop of Winchester, the Right Reverend John Taylor, and Labour MP Judith Hart. But the reason for the demonstration, and uproar, was the presence of controversial former Tory MP Enoch Powell. He was opposed to large-scale immigration and is best known today for giving his infamous 1968 Rivers of Blood speech, where he warned about what he believed would be the consequences of continued unchecked immigration from the Commonwealth to Britain. When news of Mr Powell’s attendance became known, members of the Basingstoke Anti-Fascist Committee, which had close links with Basingstoke Trades Council, joined forces with the Reading People Against Fascism and Racism, to make their views heard. Among the leading figures behind the demonstration was Arthur Maderson, a Park Prewett art therapist, who estimated that 180 people turned up to protest about Mr Powell’s presence. Prior to recording the programme, Mr Powell was dining at the Red Lion Hotel with the other panellists and the chairman of the panel, veteran broadcaster David Jacobs. When it became known that Mr Powell was in the hotel, Mr Maderson went inside and confronted the politician. According to The Gazette, Mr Maderson told Mr Powell: “Your inflammatory speeches have incited fascist thugs to attack coloured people in London. “People have been killed and maimed because of the things you have said. How do you sleep at night knowing all this?” The report said Mr Powell’s reply was: “Quite simple. I just put my head on a pillow and close my eyes.” After Mr Powell had been smuggled into the church via a side door, the first major interruption to the recording occurred when Judith Hart was asked why she was sharing a platform with a man responsible for the murder of innocent black people, and she was asked if she would join the demonstration outside. At this point, the audience began clapping in order to drown out the demonstrators, and Mrs Hart replied by saying that she would rather be in a position to argue with Mr Powell face to face. David Jacobs likened the proceedings to “some kind of variety hall,” and asked the Bishop of Winchester to speak. He managed to soothe the audience for a short while, but when he began answering a question, the first stone struck a stained-glass window. There was increased shouting and recording had to stop while stewards removed a group of demonstrators who had got in. This was difficult as they had linked arms. As the doors opened to eject the 14 shouting and struggling demonstrators, the angry crowd outside were joined by others who ran from nearby pubs. More stones were thrown at the church with some demonstrators hammering on the church door chanting, “Come out Powell. We want you dead.” Later the door opened again, and terrified members of the audience emerging. Tearful and hysterical elderly ladies were forced to run a gauntlet of jeering demonstrators, who with clenched-fist salutes and shouts of “fascists out!”, deliberately obstructed their progress and even attempted to jostle some men. Gazette writer Arthur Attwood was inside the church and asked Mr Powell for a few words for the newspaper’s readers. Mr Powell said: “Tell them that Enoch Powell said it was not Basingstoke. The demonstrators were from outside and had been organised by a national footing.” David Jacobs had a few words to say too. He said he was “sickened and disgusted,” adding nothing like this had ever happened to him in over 30 years of broadcasting.