A prominent supporter of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party has been revealed as a follower of the far-right figure Enoch Powell. Gary Dutton expressed his admiration for Powell, known for his controversial “Rivers of blood” speech foreseeing a race war, citing the politician’s vision. Dutton, a wealthy individual, also urged David Cameron to halt immigration completely. Powell, in his infamous 1968 speech, warned against mass immigration, claiming a dire future where the black population would dominate over whites.
At the age of 76, Dutton contributed £10,000 to Reform’s Lee Anderson this year and previously donated £45,000 through his company. Additionally, his firm funded a £1,500 trip for Anderson to France last month. Reform UK, leading in the polls, proposed a strategy involving mass deportations of asylum seekers. In his autobiography, Dutton listed Powell among his admired figures, along with Margaret Thatcher, Winston Churchill, and the Beatles’ John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
Powell’s speech was delivered before the second reading of the Labour government’s Race Relations Bill, which aimed to prevent discrimination based on ethnicity in housing, employment, and public services. Farage had reportedly sought Powell’s public endorsement for his by-election campaign two decades earlier.
In his book “The Business Builder” from 2012, Dutton recounted a conversation with David Cameron where he advocated for strict immigration controls, less political correctness, and exiting the EU. Dutton emphasized concerns about the erosion of English culture and sovereignty due to globalization. Electoral Commission records show Dutton’s company, E.I.R.P Ltd, donated £20,000 to Reform UK in 2020 and £25,000 in 2019 when it was known as the Brexit Party. Furthermore, Dutton personally contributed two £5,000 donations to Anderson this year.
E.I.R.P Ltd also financed Anderson’s trip to France last month for a speaking engagement. Dutton, recognized with an MBE in 2008 for his contributions to manufacturing, appeared on the Sunday Times Rich List in 2020 with a net worth of £134 million. Reform UK has been contacted for a response.