World: The Battle of Leyton Hall

In 1961, when the Conservative government introduced a bill to limit Commonwealth immigration for the first time in the nation's history, Laborite Patrick Gordon Walker led the Opposition's opposition. He decried the measure as "barefaced racial discrimination," warned that it would do serious damage to Britain's relations with its Commonwealth partners. Speaker after speaker rose to support him, protesting that the legislation struck at the roots of Britain's traditional tolerance toward visitors and residents of any creed or hue.

About Face. The trouble is that in the wake of the torrent of new...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!