An affluent supporter of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party has been revealed as an admirer of the controversial figure Enoch Powell, known for his far-right views. Gary Dutton expressed his admiration for Powell, who famously warned of a potential race war in his divisive “Rivers of blood” speech, praising his foresight. Dutton, a wealthy businessman with a penchant for yachts, advocated to former Prime Minister David Cameron for a halt to immigration. Powell, who was dismissed from the Tory shadow cabinet in 1968 for his anti-immigration stance, had made alarming predictions about the future racial dynamics.
Dutton, aged 76, donated £10,000 to Lee Anderson of Reform this year and had previously contributed £45,000 through his company. Notably, Dutton’s firm also funded a £1,500 trip for Anderson to France recently. Reform UK, currently leading in the polls, has proposed a controversial plan for the mass deportation of asylum seekers. In his autobiography, Dutton listed Powell among the figures he admired, along with Margaret Thatcher, Winston Churchill, and the Beatles’ John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
Powell’s infamous speech was delivered before the second reading of the Race Relations Bill by the Labour government, which aimed to prevent discrimination based on ethnicity in housing, employment, and public services. Farage had sought Powell’s endorsement for his by-election campaign in the past, despite Powell’s passing in 1998.
In his book “The Business Builder” from 2012, Dutton recounted a conversation with David Cameron where he advocated for stricter immigration controls and criticized political correctness and the EU. The businessman expressed concerns about the erosion of English identity and sovereignty due to globalization. Electoral Commission records show substantial financial contributions from Dutton’s E.I.R.P Ltd to Reform UK, previously known as the Brexit Party.
Dutton, who received an MBE in 2008 for his contributions to manufacturing, was listed in the Sunday Times Rich List with a net worth of £134 million in 2020. Reform UK has been approached for a statement regarding these revelations.