Liz Truss, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, addressed attendees at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Maryland on Wednesday, where she asserted that Britain is in a state of decline and called for the establishment of a Donald Trump-style movement to reinvigorate the country. Her remarks occurred during a conference that featured a convergence of right-wing populists from across the globe, discussing strategies for collaboration.
In her speech, Truss characterised the British state as “failing” and suggested that a “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) movement could provide a model for change in the UK. “We now have a major problem in Britain that judges are making decisions that should be made by politicians,” she stated, expressing her concern that the judiciary has become “no longer accountable” due to reforms implemented by Tony Blair's government that empowered an “unelected bureaucracy”. She emphasised the need for reversing these changes, stating, “There’s no doubt in my mind that until those changes are reversed, we do not have a functioning country.”
Truss, whose tenure as prime minister lasted just 49 days before she was ousted from office and subsequently lost her parliamentary seat in the general election, has sought refuge in gatherings like CPAC, which has shifted towards a more extreme right-wing approach influenced by Trump's populism. During her address, she lamented the disillusionment of voters who are continually let down by those in power, including current Labour leader Keir Starmer. “The same people are still making the decisions,” she observed, referring to what she described as the "deep state" and unelected officials.
Matt Schlapp, a key figure at CPAC, responded positively to Truss's call for a British equivalent to the conference, saying, “It’s a deal!” This interaction underscored the collaborative spirit amongst the right-wing figures present.
On the following day, Truss continued her critique of the UK government, labelling it a “socialist Government” and claiming the country is in the “dark ages”. She introduced plans for a new “free speech media network”, aiming to emulate the success of independent media in the US, and challenged traditional media narratives. “We want some of that,” she stated, referring to the impact of independent media, asserting a desire to confront what she termed the “Britain Bashing Corporation” – a reference to the BBC.
Truss highlighted the influence of figures like Trump and Elon Musk, expressing a desire for what she deemed a “Trump revolution” in Britain, and called for his supporters – whom she labeled as “Muskrats” – to scrutinise the British political establishment. She claimed, “Everything that made Britain great is being destroyed by an establishment that hates Britain and hates the West,” reflecting a perception of cultural and political decline.
Additionally, CPAC featured speeches from various international representatives, including Miklós Szánthó, head of CPAC Hungary, who voiced support for Trump and echoed Truss’s sentiments about conservatism facing a formidable challenge from liberal ideologies. He praised Hungary as a “island of freedom in the liberal ocean of Europe” and called for a united front among conservatives globally, against what he termed “wokeness”.
The event also saw appearances from officials and political figures from countries including Australia and Brazil, with discussions focusing on preserving traditional conservative values and countering globalism. Closing the conference, Schlapp articulated a collective stance against various global organisations, labelling them as representatives of a “globalist cabal” that compromises democracy.
The continuation of CPAC's proceedings included statements from prominent personalities expected to address key issues facing conservative politics, with the spotlight on Trump's anticipated speech.
Source: Noah Wire Services