27 February 2024 , 16:17
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Rishi Sunak is under mounting pressure to withdraw the whip from Liz Truss after a full list of far-right panelists at an event she attended in the US was revealed.
Mr Sunak defended Ms Truss' attendance at the CPAC conference in Washington DC, where she spoke alongside Donald Trump and Nigel Farage. But today it can be revealed the failed ex-PM spoke at an "international summit" on the fringes of the event on Saturday.
As well as Mr Farage, attendees included Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville, a former American Football coach who had previously said that the description of a white nationalist as a racist is an "opinion", and refused to say whether he felt that white nationalists should not be allowed to serve in the military.
Steve Bannon was also at the meeting. Earlier in the week he hosted Ms Truss on his radio show, and described far-right extremist Tommy Robinson as a "hero." Also present was Miklos Szontho, director of the Center for Fundamental Rights, a right-wing think tank in Hungary with close ties to Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Liz Truss pictured attending an event at the CPAC International SummitDuring the meeting, Mr Szontho said he was opposed to the "democracy and rule of law b******t in and from Brussels."
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Labour's Jonathan Ashworth said; "It is anyone's guess what Liz Truss thinks she is up to -- but we now know that she is spending her time hanging out with a bizarre cast-list of far-right characters, while spreading conspiracy theories and refusing to challenge the idea Tommy Robinson is a "hero”.”
Jay Aeba, a Japanese Conservative commentator, was also at the meeting. He is a former board member of the Happy Science cult, which promotes nationalism, xenophobia and the belief that its leader is the reincarnation of an alien from Venus. Also around the table was Argentinian politician Patricia Bullrich, a member of the Republican Proposal party who once said she was in favour of arming all citizens.
And CPAC chairman Matt Schlapp, who is currently facing sexual assault allegations, was also at the meeting. Mr Schlapp denies the allegations.
Mr Ashworth added: “That Rishi Sunak still hasn't withdrawn the Tory whip from his predecessor shows how weak he is. By allowing her to bring these divisive, deluded and dangerous views into mainstream British politics, the Tory Party is poisoning public discourse."