THE Birmingham meeting room where racist Tory MP Enoch Powell made his infamous “rivers of blood” speech 50 years ago will be taken over on Friday by trade unionists and anti-racists for a “rivers of love” rally.

On April 20 1968 the Wolverhampton South West MP raged against immigration, predicting violent and bloody confrontations in Britain on racial lines.

The speech, to his local Conservative association, was widely publicised and polarised opinions, with both protests against his poisonous rhetoric and demonstrations of support.