Rebuke for Powell

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33355, 13 October 1973, Page 15

Rebuke for Powell

- (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) BLACKPOOL, October 12. Controversy raged today among the more than 2000 delegates to the annual conference of the Conservative Party about the public rebuke to the Right-wing Conservative, Mr Enoch Powell.

It was delivered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr Anthony Barber) when concluding yesterday’s important debate on economic affairs. He described Mr Powell as a frustrated fanatic suffering from moral conceit and intellectual arrogance.

His outburst provoked applause from delegates upset by Mr Powell’s attacks on the Prime Minister (Mr Heath), and scattered shouts of “Shame” from Powell supporters in the hall. Afterwards, some party activists questioned the wisdom of Mr Barber’s bringing into the open so dramatically I the bitter antagonism between Cabinet members and Mr Powell. “NOT HURT” i Mr Powell, whose criticism I of the Government has .ranged over immigration.

entry of the Common Market,, and economic policy, told a television interviewer he was not hurt by Mr Barber’s remarks. “I was sorry, because I do not think that personal attacks upon motives and character do a party any good,” said Mr Powell. There was speculation that the party leadership had decided on a frontal challenge to exhaust Mr Powell’s credibility before the next General Election — due by June, 1975,' at the latest, but expected; late in 1974. Ministers were also aware! — and said to be incensed —

that Mr Powell intended to make another critical speech at Lytham .St Annes, nearby, after the conference adjourned for the day last night. He had given copies of his address to the press. ECONOMIC POLICY In his speech, Mr Barber again pledged that the Government would not change its policy of concentration on economic growth, in spite of fears in some financial quarters of a pending balance-of-payments crisis. He said he had no intention of “slamming or. the economic brakes.” In an earlier speech, the Minister of Agriculture (Mr Joseph Godber) dismissed the view that rising food prices in Britain were because of membership in the Common Market. “It is food prices outside Europe that have caused our difficulties and the common agricultural policy has caused at the most an increase of 1 per cent in our food prices,” said Mr Godber. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT A demand for the restoration of capital punishment for murder in Britain was approved by a 176-vote majority. But a spokesman for the Administration made it clear that the Government had no plans to introduce such legislation in Parliament. Voting was 1404 in favour of the return of capital punishment to 1228 against. Supporters said the aim was to hang "murderous thugs of the Irish Republican Army,” and “those of sound mind who carefully and deliberately plan and execute the killing of a fellow human being.”