On Broadcasting House last Sunday Anthony Howard was discussing how the voters of Smethwick had rejected Patrick Gordon-Walker in the 1964 General Election.
The story wasn’t actually making much sense until Howard explained that the winning candidate had used the slogan ‘If you want a nigger for a neighbour, vote Labour.’ Cue nervous explanation from Paddy O'Connell that that word was used only in an historically accurate quote.
It was only when I was checking details of names & dates that I came across the story of Malcolm X’s visit to Smethick in 1965 & of his last TV interview (with the BBC) before his assassination nine days later. It was never aired, so it’s not surprising that that is another fact about his visit to England which I do not remember.
