For Labour moderates agonising over whether they can vote for the party led by Jeremy Corbyn, an answer to their dilemma comes from a surprising quarter. The quandary of party or principles comes down to whether you agree with Margaret Thatcher or Enoch Powell. Early in her premiership, Mrs T paid a visit to the Conservative Philosophy Group and got into an unexpected row with the original tribune of the New Right. Posed a problem — whether one owed first loyalty to country or values — the divergence of Thatcherism and Powellism was stark. Powell said:
‘I would fight for this country even if it had a Communist government.’
Thatcher was horrified:
‘Nonsense, Enoch. If I send British troops abroad, it will be to defend our values.’
But the Tory nationalist was to have the last word over the Gladstonian Liberal:
‘No, Prime Minister, values exist in a transcendental realm, beyond space and time.
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