Traditional Britain Group


The Traditional Britain Group is a far-right British pressure group which describes itself as traditionalist conservative, High Tory and a "home to the disillusioned patriot". It was founded in 2001 by Gregory Lauder-Frost, former officer of the far-right Conservative pressure group Western Goals Institute and Vice-President and Treasurer of the Monday Club; the 7th Lord Sudeley is its President.
Anti-fascist group Hope not Hate claims the group is part of a UK-wide network linked to the European alt-right. Private Eye has described the TBG as far-right, and a successor to the WGI.

History and ideology

The TBG was founded in 2001, and has a broad set of aims and objectives. It opposes non-white immigration to the UK and the UK's European Union membership. The organisation's stated principles include opposition to egalitarianism; a return to tradition; the centrality of the "heterosexual family" as "the primary social unit"; spiritual values and "the sacred nature of Christianity and our Established Church"; rolling back the welfare state; and opposition to immigration, multiculturalism, political correctness and Marxism. TBG is in favour of state-sponsored repatriation. Their Facebook page carried a post calling for the deportation of Doreen Lawrence and "millions of others... to their natural homelands".

Speakers

TBG has been addressed by important speakers such as Simon Heffer and Sir Roger Scruton. In 2011, Gerard Batten spoke at the group's annual dinner; upon his election as leader, UKIP said Batten "does not share the views of TBG. He is invited by many organisations to speak and TBG had a list of reputable speakers such as Simon Heffer previous to his invitation. Since he attended things have come to light. He would not consider a further invitation." TBG came to national prominence when Liberal Conspiracy revealed that Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg spoke as a guest of honour at the TBG's 2013 annual dinner. This led to criticism three months later of Rees-Mogg, who then said that he had not properly checked the organisation before speaking, disassociated himself from the group, and apologised for his attendance, calling it "a mistake".

2013

The 2013 annual conference of the group was addressed by, amongst others, American white nationalist Richard Spencer.

2017

The 2017 annual conference was addressed by Anne Marie Waters, Martin Sellner and attended by Mark Collett. In March of that year, the Bow Group granted TBG a special concession to its 65th anniversary celebrations.

2018

In October 2018, James Thompson pulled out of his speaking slot to the group's annual conference at the last minute following "considerable pressure" from the media. Thompson lost his honorary professorship at UCL after Private Eye "revealed he had been organising secretive conferences on racial eugenics – and inviting notorious white supremacists". The columnist Katie Hopkins spoke at their 2018 annual conference.

2019

n Finance Minister Martin Helme addressed the 2019 conference. Polish vice-chairman of the National Movement Krzysztof Bosak also spoke at the 2019 conference.