Anniversary of Powell's ''Rivers of Blood' speech

On this day, April 20, 1968 English Conservative MP for Wolverhampton South, Enoch Powell gave his famous/infamous 'Rivers of Blood' speech in Birmingham, where he strongly opposed immigration from the Commonwealth.

Before giving his speech, Powell had said earlier in the week to a friend journalist: "I'm going to make a speech at the weekend and it's going to go up 'fizz' like a rocket; but whereas all rockets fall to the earth, this one is going to stay up."

As a result of the speech, the then leader of the Conservative Party, Edward Heath, sacked Powell from the shadow cabinet.

Two years later, in 1970, the Conservatives went on to win the general election.

Enoch Powell, born 1912, died 1998.