Page "Enoch Powell" Paragraph 76

This call to vote Labour surprised some of Powell's supporters who were more concerned with beating socialism than the supposed loss of national independence.

On 25 February, he made another speech at Shipley and urged a vote for Labour and saying he did not believe the claim that Wilson would renege his commitment to renegotiation, which Powell believed was ironic because of Heath's premiership: " In acrobatics Harold Wilson, for all his nimbleness and skill, is simply no match for the breathtaking, thoroughgoing efficiency of the present Prime Minister ".

At this moment a heckler, shouted " Judas!

" Powell responded: " Judas was paid!

Judas was paid!

I am making a sacrifice!

" Later in the speech Powell said, " I was born a Tory, am a Tory and shall die a Tory.

It is part of me ... it is something I cannot alter ".

In 1987, Powell said there was no contradiction between urging people to vote Labour whilst proclaiming to be a Tory: " Many Labour members are quite good Tories ".