Enoch Powell, the MP who delivered the racist “rivers of blood speech”, 50 years ago, should not be commemorated with a blue plaque. 

It would be an insult to the people of Wolverhampton, the Black Country, and across the West Midlands from all backgrounds, who have worked to build an inclusive and harmonious community.

As an education worker in a community targeted by the far right, I know only too well the danger posed to our students, workers and community when we allow messages of hate and violence to be accepted.

We must reject Powell’s poison and his promotion of division and hate. 

We should celebrate our diversity and the fact his nightmare vision has been confounded. Leave him in the dustbin of history.

Do not give a blue plaque to the memory of an attempt to violently divide our community.