 The mainstream press attacked Benn for using language deemed as intemperate as Powell 's language in his " Rivers of Blood " speech ( which was widely regarded as racist ) , and Benn noted in his diary that " letters began pouring in on the Powell speech : 2 : 1 against me but some very sympathetic ones saying that my speech was overdue " . Harold Wilson later reprimanded Benn for this speech , accusing him of losing Labour seats in the 1970 general election . 
