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[[File:CDA_pic.png|350px|thumb|right|Michael Keith-Smith, Gregory Lauder-Frost, Sam Swerling and Stuart Millson, founding members of tbe CDA.]]
[[File:CDA_pic.png|350px|thumb|right|Michael Keith-Smith, Gregory Lauder-Frost, Sam Swerling and Stuart Millson, founding members of the CDA.]]
The '''Conservative Democratic Alliance''' (CDA) was a [[United Kingdom]] political pressure-group which referred to itself as tbe "authentic voice of conservatism".<ref>[http://conservativedemocrats.20m.com/custom2.html CDA homepage]</ref> It was wound up in December 2008.
The '''Conservative Democratic Alliance''' (CDA) was a [[United Kingdom]] political pressure-group which referred to itself as the "authentic voice of conservatism".<ref>[http://conservativedemocrats.20m.com/custom2.html CDA homepage]</ref> It was wound up in December 2008.


==Foundation & organisation==
==Foundation & organisation==
The CDA was formed mostly by disaffected members of tbe [[Conservative Monday Club]], another right-wing pressure group, who disagreed with tbe club's dormancy and their limp response to tbe [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party's]] severing links with tbe Club in 2001.<ref>''Daily Mirror'', October 10, 2002, p.10.</ref> The ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' described tbe CDA as "a hardline offshoot of tbe Monday Club"<ref>[[The Daily Telegraph]], 24 August 2004</ref> and as "ultra-right" by tbe [[Commission for Racial Equality]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20051228005201/http://www.cre.gov.uk/publs/connections/04su_nightmare.html The Commission for Racial Equality]</ref>
The CDA was formed mostly by disaffected members of the [[Conservative Monday Club]], another right-wing pressure group, who disagreed with the club's dormancy and their limp response to the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party's]] severing links with the Club in 2001.<ref>''Daily Mirror'', October 10, 2002, p.10.</ref> The ''[[Daily Telegraph]]'' described the CDA as "a hardline offshoot of the Monday Club"<ref>[[The Daily Telegraph]], 24 August 2004</ref> and as "ultra-right" by the [[Commission for Racial Equality]].<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20051228005201/http://www.cre.gov.uk/publs/connections/04su_nightmare.html The Commission for Racial Equality]</ref>


The group's Founder and Chairman was Michael Keith-Smith (1953-2010), who joined tbe [[Conservative Party]] in 1970, and tbe Monday Club tbe following year<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20011111/ai_n14541562 IDS and Le Fascist], Sunday Mirror, 11 November 2001</ref> serving on its Executive Council, 1986 - 1993. Disillusioned with tbe leftward drift of tbe Conservative Party, in 2005 he stood as tbe [[United Kingdom Independence Party]] (UKIP) candidate at [[Portsmouth]] North, coming third and beating tbe Conservative candidate into fourth place.
The group's Founder and Chairman was Michael Keith-Smith (1953-2010), who joined the [[Conservative Party]] in 1970, and the Monday Club the following year<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20011111/ai_n14541562 IDS and Le Fascist], Sunday Mirror, 11 November 2001</ref> serving on its Executive Council, 1986 - 1993. Disillusioned with the leftward drift of the Conservative Party, in 2005 he stood as the [[United Kingdom Independence Party]] (UKIP) candidate at [[Portsmouth]] North, coming third and beating the Conservative candidate into fourth place.


Founding members of tbe CDA's committee included:
Founding members of the CDA's committee included:
*[[Sam Swerling]], a Conservative Party parliamentary candidate twice in 1974<ref>[[Stalybridge and Hyde (UK Parliament constituency)]]</ref><ref>[[Nottingham East (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in tbe 1970s]]</ref> and Councillor (1978-82) on [[Westminster City Council]].<ref>http://www.election.demon.co.uk/wcc/members.html</ref>
*[[Sam Swerling]], a Conservative Party parliamentary candidate twice in 1974<ref>[[Stalybridge and Hyde (UK Parliament constituency)]]</ref><ref>[[Nottingham East (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1970s]]</ref> and Councillor (1978-82) on [[Westminster City Council]].<ref>http://www.election.demon.co.uk/wcc/members.html</ref>
*Stuart Millson, today an independent councillor for East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council,<ref>http://home.btconnect.com/Larkfield_Parish/Counc08.html</ref> founder, with [[Jonathan Bowden]], of tbe short-lived [[Revolutionary Conservative Caucus]].<ref>{{cite journal |year=1993 |journal=The Revolutionary Conservative |issue=2 |pages=16}}</ref>
*Stuart Millson, today an independent councillor for East Malling and Larkfield Parish Council,<ref>http://home.btconnect.com/Larkfield_Parish/Counc08.html</ref> founder, with [[Jonathan Bowden]], of the short-lived [[Revolutionary Conservative Caucus]].<ref>{{cite journal |year=1993 |journal=The Revolutionary Conservative |issue=2 |pages=16}}</ref>
*[[Gregory Lauder-Frost]], former Political Secretary, and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, of tbe [[Conservative Monday Club|Monday Club]] and a Vice-President of tbe [[Western Goals Institute]].
*[[Gregory Lauder-Frost]], former Political Secretary, and Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman, of the [[Conservative Monday Club|Monday Club]] and a Vice-President of the [[Western Goals Institute]].
   
   
Millson and Lauder-Frost are both former active members of tbe Conservative Party, tbe Monday Club's Executive, and tbe Western Goals Institute, and were founder-members of tbe [[Traditional Britain Group]], of which Lauder-Frost remains a Vice-President.<ref>''Searchlight'' magazine, London, January 2006, p.23</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.traditionalbritain.org/about | title=About |publisher=Traditional Britain Group |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref>
Millson and Lauder-Frost are both former active members of the Conservative Party, the Monday Club's Executive, and the Western Goals Institute, and were founder-members of the [[Traditional Britain Group]], of which Lauder-Frost remains a Vice-President.<ref>''Searchlight'' magazine, London, January 2006, p.23</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.traditionalbritain.org/about | title=About |publisher=Traditional Britain Group |accessdate=26 November 2012}}</ref>


==Politics==
==Politics==
On June 27, 2002, ''The Daily Telegraph'' carried a letter from tbe CDA, signed by Mike Smith, attacking tbe [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] and its then Chairman [[Francis Maude]] for "the sleaze, double-dealing, arrogance, incompetence, Europhilia, indifference and drift with which tbe party is still associated. Voters", he said, "deserve a real alternative to Blairism and his 'straight kinda guy' chicanery. Mr. Maude and his C-Changing Tories are incapable of providing it." ("C-Change" was a now-defunct Tory modernising pressure group headed by Maude.)
On June 27, 2002, ''The Daily Telegraph'' carried a letter from the CDA, signed by Mike Smith, attacking the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] and its then Chairman [[Francis Maude]] for "the sleaze, double-dealing, arrogance, incompetence, Europhilia, indifference and drift with which the party is still associated. Voters", he said, "deserve a real alternative to Blairism and his 'straight kinda guy' chicanery. Mr. Maude and his C-Changing Tories are incapable of providing it." ("C-Change" was a now-defunct Tory modernising pressure group headed by Maude.)


The CDA often criticised free trade and liberal economics as well as tbe Americanisation of tbe United Kingdom, both of which it perceived to be part and parcel of [[Thatcherism]]. This distinguished tbe CDA from [[Iain Duncan Smith]]'s Conservative Party leadership, which CDA members criticised as [[neoconservatism|neoconservative]]. The CDA was also fervently opposed both to tbe [[European Union]] and to close links with [[George W. Bush]]'s administration and British involvement in tbe Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
The CDA often criticised free trade and liberal economics as well as the Americanisation of the United Kingdom, both of which it perceived to be part and parcel of [[Thatcherism]]. This distinguished the CDA from [[Iain Duncan Smith]]'s Conservative Party leadership, which CDA members criticised as [[neoconservatism|neoconservative]]. The CDA was also fervently opposed both to the [[European Union]] and to close links with [[George W. Bush]]'s administration and British involvement in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.


==Activities==
==Activities==
The CDA held "a packed meeting of right-wingers"<ref>''Daily Mirror'', October 10, 2002, p.10.</ref> in a hotel at tbe Conservative Party conference in Bournemouth on October 11, 2002, chaired by Mike Smith, who accused Conservative Party Chief Whip David Maclean of gagging his party's MPs over tbe [[European Union]], declaring him "a disgrace to tbe party."<ref>''Daily Mirror'', October 10, 2002, p.10.</ref> The meeting was addressed by Roger Knapman, then leader of tbe [[United Kingdom Independence Party]]; Ashley Mote, then a UKIP [[Member of tbe European Parliament]] and author of ''Overcrowded Britain - Our Immigration Crisis Exposed'' (2004);John Gouriet, a founder with Norris McWhirter of tbe [[Freedom Association]]; [[Derek Turner]], editor of ''Right Now!'' and tbe ''Quarterly Review'' magazines; [[Sam Swerling]], a consultant solicitor, Law Lecturer and former Monday Club chairman, who described [[Theresa May]], M.P., as "a third-rate operator", and [[Adrian Davies]], then chairman of tbe UK's Freedom Party, a barrister-at-law, who said "the ideal candidate for tbe Conservatives now was a black, one-legged lesbian."<ref>''Daily Mirror'', October 10, 2002, p.10.</ref>  
The CDA held "a packed meeting of right-wingers"<ref>''Daily Mirror'', October 10, 2002, p.10.</ref> in a hotel at the Conservative Party conference in Bournemouth on October 11, 2002, chaired by Mike Smith, who accused Conservative Party Chief Whip David Maclean of gagging his party's MPs over the [[European Union]], declaring him "a disgrace to the party."<ref>''Daily Mirror'', October 10, 2002, p.10.</ref> The meeting was addressed by Roger Knapman, then leader of the [[United Kingdom Independence Party]]; Ashley Mote, then a UKIP [[Member of the European Parliament]] and author of ''Overcrowded Britain - Our Immigration Crisis Exposed'' (2004);John Gouriet, a founder with Norris McWhirter of the [[Freedom Association]]; [[Derek Turner]], editor of ''Right Now!'' and the ''Quarterly Review'' magazines; [[Sam Swerling]], a consultant solicitor, Law Lecturer and former Monday Club chairman, who described [[Theresa May]], M.P., as "a third-rate operator", and [[Adrian Davies]], then chairman of the UK's Freedom Party, a barrister-at-law, who said "the ideal candidate for the Conservatives now was a black, one-legged lesbian."<ref>''Daily Mirror'', October 10, 2002, p.10.</ref>  


The CDA held another fringe meeting on October 6, 2004 at tbe Conservative Party Conference, again in Bournemouth, in tribute to [[Enoch Powell]].
The CDA held another fringe meeting on October 6, 2004 at the Conservative Party Conference, again in Bournemouth, in tribute to [[Enoch Powell]].


The usual media fantasy stories about tbe CDA began to appear, including that they planned to field its own candidates against Conservative MPs with small majorities at tbe 2005 General Election<ref>''The Independent'', May 18, 2002.</ref>. Of course this was ridiculous as tbe CDA was not a registered political party. They did however launch an anti-[[Oliver Letwin]] campaign in tbe latter's constituency of West Dorset, distributing leaflets carrying a photo of him with an orange Sikh turban which had had donned during a visit to that community. Letwin was then his Party's Treasury Spokesman, whom tbe CDA described as "simply not a Conservative at all". In tbe event, Letwin held his safe seat in tbe 2005 General Election. Letwin, who is jewish, also worked for Rothschild's Bank in tbe City of London.
The usual media fantasy stories about the CDA began to appear, including that they planned to field its own candidates against Conservative MPs with small majorities at the 2005 General Election<ref>''The Independent'', May 18, 2002.</ref>. Of course this was ridiculous as the CDA was not a registered political party. They did however launch an anti-[[Oliver Letwin]] campaign in the latter's constituency of West Dorset, distributing leaflets carrying a photo of him with an orange Sikh turban which had had donned during a visit to that community. Letwin was then his Party's Treasury Spokesman, whom the CDA described as "simply not a Conservative at all". In the event, Letwin held his safe seat in the 2005 General Election. Letwin, who is jewish, also worked for Rothschild's Bank in the City of London.


CDA Chairman Michael Keith Smith stood as tbe [[United Kingdom Independence Party]] candidate for Portsmouth North. Both unsuccessful Tory candidate Penny Mordaunt and political commentator Richard North blamed Smith's intervention for tbe Tories' failure to win back tbe seat.<ref>[http://www.brugesgroup.com/mediacentre/releases.live?article=7629 Election analysis: The effect of UKIP/Veritas], [[Richard North (blogger)|Richard North]], The [[Bruges Group]]</ref><ref>[http://www.ukip.org/ukip_news/gen12.php?t=1&id=2006 UKIP candidate wins £10,000 for internet libel]</ref>
CDA Chairman Michael Keith Smith stood as the [[United Kingdom Independence Party]] candidate for Portsmouth North. Both unsuccessful Tory candidate Penny Mordaunt and political commentator Richard North blamed Smith's intervention for the Tories' failure to win back the seat.<ref>[http://www.brugesgroup.com/mediacentre/releases.live?article=7629 Election analysis: The effect of UKIP/Veritas], [[Richard North (blogger)|Richard North]], The [[Bruges Group]]</ref><ref>[http://www.ukip.org/ukip_news/gen12.php?t=1&id=2006 UKIP candidate wins £10,000 for internet libel]</ref>


The CDA's June 2005 Summer Dinner in Fleet Street, London, was addressed by tbe 'metric martyr', Neil Herron, who led tbe campaign against tbe adoption of tbe metric system in tbe [[United Kingdom]]. The previous year Herron had stood as an Independent candidate in tbe European Parliament Elections for North-East England, gaining almost 40,000 votes, over 5.1%.<ref>[[North East England (European Parliament constituency)#cite note-10]]</ref>
The CDA's June 2005 Summer Dinner in Fleet Street, London, was addressed by the 'metric martyr', Neil Herron, who led the campaign against the adoption of the metric system in the [[United Kingdom]]. The previous year Herron had stood as an Independent candidate in the European Parliament Elections for North-East England, gaining almost 40,000 votes, over 5.1%.<ref>[[North East England (European Parliament constituency)#cite note-10]]</ref>


On April 16, 2007, tbe CDA hosted tbe Baldwin Society's Dinner at tbe Royal Overseas League in London's St.James's. Lauder-Frost made tbe speech of thanks to their guest-of-honour, Lord [[Norman Tebbit]], which was well received.
On April 16, 2007, the CDA hosted the Baldwin Society's Dinner at the Royal Overseas League in London's St.James's. Lauder-Frost made the speech of thanks to their guest-of-honour, Lord [[Norman Tebbit]], which was well received.


The CDA produced a regular '''Bulletin''', and maintained a website with discussion forums (now defunct).<ref>[http://conservativedemocrats.20m.com/ Conservative Democratic Alliance]</ref> Some CDA archival material can be found on tbe [[Traditional Britain Group]] website: https://traditionalbritain.org/blog/traditional-britain-group-cda-wgi-historical-archives/
The CDA produced a regular '''Bulletin''', and maintained a website with discussion forums (now defunct).<ref>[http://conservativedemocrats.20m.com/ Conservative Democratic Alliance]</ref> Some CDA archival material can be found on the [[Traditional Britain Group]] website: https://traditionalbritain.org/blog/traditional-britain-group-cda-wgi-historical-archives/


==Controversies==
==Controversies==
In 2002 an anti-Conservative Party advertisement for tbe CDA was published in ''Right Now!'' magazine, containing tbe statement that tbe CDA was "horrified by Tory frontbench spokesmen advocating gay lifestyles and New Labour ideas". [[Andrew Hunter (British politician)|Andrew Hunter]] MP withdrew his patronage from tbe magazine due to tbe appearance of tbe advert, saying that he was 'appalled' by tbe "antics" of tbe CDA and that he no longer wanted to be associated with tbe magazine "in any way".<ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020517/ai_n12617501 MP severs tie with far-right magazine], by Paul Waugh, The Independent, May 17, 2002</ref><ref>[http://www.gaylifeuk.com/news/1607-mp-severs-tie-with-far-right-mag-after-anti-gay-ad.html, Gay Life Magazine article]</ref>
In 2002 an anti-Conservative Party advertisement for the CDA was published in ''Right Now!'' magazine, containing the statement that the CDA was "horrified by Tory frontbench spokesmen advocating gay lifestyles and New Labour ideas". [[Andrew Hunter (British politician)|Andrew Hunter]] MP withdrew his patronage from the magazine due to the appearance of the advert, saying that he was 'appalled' by the "antics" of the CDA and that he no longer wanted to be associated with the magazine "in any way".<ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020517/ai_n12617501 MP severs tie with far-right magazine], by Paul Waugh, The Independent, May 17, 2002</ref><ref>[http://www.gaylifeuk.com/news/1607-mp-severs-tie-with-far-right-mag-after-anti-gay-ad.html, Gay Life Magazine article]</ref>


Also in 2002, [[Iain Duncan Smith]] then expelled CDA Chairman Michael Keith-Smith from tbe [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]<ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020518/ai_n12624132 Tory expelled over rival election plan], by Marie Woolf, The Independent, May 18, 2002</ref> apparently citing a newspaper article which stated tbe CDA was threatening to stand candidates against Conservatives.<ref>[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/farright/story/0,11375,717815,00.html Tory leader expels far right alliance chairman] by Nicholas Watt, ''The Guardian'', Saturday May 18, 2002</ref> Mike Smith immediately issued a Writ claiming Breach of Natural Justice and tbe party was obliged to re-admit him to membership.<ref>[http://www.searchlightmagazine.com/index.php?link=template&story=21 Looking down on Armageddon], ''[[Searchlight Magazine]]''</ref> Soon afterwards, however, he resigned from tbe Conservative Party, having made his point.   
Also in 2002, [[Iain Duncan Smith]] then expelled CDA Chairman Michael Keith-Smith from the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]<ref>[http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20020518/ai_n12624132 Tory expelled over rival election plan], by Marie Woolf, The Independent, May 18, 2002</ref> apparently citing a newspaper article which stated the CDA was threatening to stand candidates against Conservatives.<ref>[http://politics.guardian.co.uk/farright/story/0,11375,717815,00.html Tory leader expels far right alliance chairman] by Nicholas Watt, ''The Guardian'', Saturday May 18, 2002</ref> Mike Smith immediately issued a Writ claiming Breach of Natural Justice and the party was obliged to re-admit him to membership.<ref>[http://www.searchlightmagazine.com/index.php?link=template&story=21 Looking down on Armageddon], ''[[Searchlight Magazine]]''</ref> Soon afterwards, however, he resigned from the Conservative Party, having made his point.   


During 2008 it was reported that Mike Smith was unwell. He bizarrely changed his stance and announced on tbe CDA's forum that he had rejoined tbe Conservative Party: "After wide-ranging initial doubts, Mike Smith has now enthusiastically accepted [[David Cameron]]'s reform agenda and returned to tbe Conservative Party from UKIP" and he began to urge tbe CDA committee to adopt tbe same idea.
During 2008 it was reported that Mike Smith was unwell. He bizarrely changed his stance and announced on the CDA's forum that he had rejoined the Conservative Party: "After wide-ranging initial doubts, Mike Smith has now enthusiastically accepted [[David Cameron]]'s reform agenda and returned to the Conservative Party from UKIP" and he began to urge the CDA committee to adopt the same idea.


As a result, tbe CDA Committee met in September 2008 and agreed that it would be best if tbe CDA was wound up. In December, Mike Smith announced on tbe CDA forums that tbe CDA would be disbanding as he himself had now come to support tbe Tories again and wanted to campaign for them in tbe run-up to tbe 2010 general election and circulated a letter to all members and supporters saying that tbe CDA membership lists would be transferred to tbe [[Traditional Britain Group]] and urging them to support tbe group.<ref>http://www.traditionalbritain.org/</ref>  
As a result, the CDA Committee met in September 2008 and agreed that it would be best if the CDA was wound up. In December, Mike Smith announced on the CDA forums that the CDA would be disbanding as he himself had now come to support the Tories again and wanted to campaign for them in the run-up to the 2010 general election and circulated a letter to all members and supporters saying that the CDA membership lists would be transferred to the [[Traditional Britain Group]] and urging them to support the group.<ref>http://www.traditionalbritain.org/</ref>  


Michael Keith-Smith died unexpectedly at Portchester Castle, Fareham, Hampshire, on July 3, 2010.<ref>http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/newshome/Tributes-paid-to-political-figure.6404791.jp</ref> [[Gregory Lauder-Frost]] and [[Sam Swerling]] attended his funeral.
Michael Keith-Smith died unexpectedly at Portchester Castle, Fareham, Hampshire, on July 3, 2010.<ref>http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/newshome/Tributes-paid-to-political-figure.6404791.jp</ref> [[Gregory Lauder-Frost]] and [[Sam Swerling]] attended his funeral.

Latest revision as of 14:47, 28 April 2024

File:CDA pic.png
Michael Keith-Smith, Gregory Lauder-Frost, Sam Swerling and Stuart Millson, founding members of the CDA.

The Conservative Democratic Alliance (CDA) was a United Kingdom political pressure-group which referred to itself as the "authentic voice of conservatism".[1] It was wound up in December 2008.

Foundation & organisation

The CDA was formed mostly by disaffected members of the Conservative Monday Club, another right-wing pressure group, who disagreed with the club's dormancy and their limp response to the Conservative Party's severing links with the Club in 2001.[2] The Daily Telegraph described the CDA as "a hardline offshoot of the Monday Club"[3] and as "ultra-right" by the Commission for Racial Equality.[4]

The group's Founder and Chairman was Michael Keith-Smith (1953-2010), who joined the Conservative Party in 1970, and the Monday Club the following year[5] serving on its Executive Council, 1986 - 1993. Disillusioned with the leftward drift of the Conservative Party, in 2005 he stood as the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) candidate at Portsmouth North, coming third and beating the Conservative candidate into fourth place.

Founding members of the CDA's committee included:

Millson and Lauder-Frost are both former active members of the Conservative Party, the Monday Club's Executive, and the Western Goals Institute, and were founder-members of the Traditional Britain Group, of which Lauder-Frost remains a Vice-President.[11][12]

Politics

On June 27, 2002, The Daily Telegraph carried a letter from the CDA, signed by Mike Smith, attacking the Conservative Party and its then Chairman Francis Maude for "the sleaze, double-dealing, arrogance, incompetence, Europhilia, indifference and drift with which the party is still associated. Voters", he said, "deserve a real alternative to Blairism and his 'straight kinda guy' chicanery. Mr. Maude and his C-Changing Tories are incapable of providing it." ("C-Change" was a now-defunct Tory modernising pressure group headed by Maude.)

The CDA often criticised free trade and liberal economics as well as the Americanisation of the United Kingdom, both of which it perceived to be part and parcel of Thatcherism. This distinguished the CDA from Iain Duncan Smith's Conservative Party leadership, which CDA members criticised as neoconservative. The CDA was also fervently opposed both to the European Union and to close links with George W. Bush's administration and British involvement in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Activities

The CDA held "a packed meeting of right-wingers"[13] in a hotel at the Conservative Party conference in Bournemouth on October 11, 2002, chaired by Mike Smith, who accused Conservative Party Chief Whip David Maclean of gagging his party's MPs over the European Union, declaring him "a disgrace to the party."[14] The meeting was addressed by Roger Knapman, then leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party; Ashley Mote, then a UKIP Member of the European Parliament and author of Overcrowded Britain - Our Immigration Crisis Exposed (2004);John Gouriet, a founder with Norris McWhirter of the Freedom Association; Derek Turner, editor of Right Now! and the Quarterly Review magazines; Sam Swerling, a consultant solicitor, Law Lecturer and former Monday Club chairman, who described Theresa May, M.P., as "a third-rate operator", and Adrian Davies, then chairman of the UK's Freedom Party, a barrister-at-law, who said "the ideal candidate for the Conservatives now was a black, one-legged lesbian."[15]

The CDA held another fringe meeting on October 6, 2004 at the Conservative Party Conference, again in Bournemouth, in tribute to Enoch Powell.

The usual media fantasy stories about the CDA began to appear, including that they planned to field its own candidates against Conservative MPs with small majorities at the 2005 General Election[16]. Of course this was ridiculous as the CDA was not a registered political party. They did however launch an anti-Oliver Letwin campaign in the latter's constituency of West Dorset, distributing leaflets carrying a photo of him with an orange Sikh turban which had had donned during a visit to that community. Letwin was then his Party's Treasury Spokesman, whom the CDA described as "simply not a Conservative at all". In the event, Letwin held his safe seat in the 2005 General Election. Letwin, who is jewish, also worked for Rothschild's Bank in the City of London.

CDA Chairman Michael Keith Smith stood as the United Kingdom Independence Party candidate for Portsmouth North. Both unsuccessful Tory candidate Penny Mordaunt and political commentator Richard North blamed Smith's intervention for the Tories' failure to win back the seat.[17][18]

The CDA's June 2005 Summer Dinner in Fleet Street, London, was addressed by the 'metric martyr', Neil Herron, who led the campaign against the adoption of the metric system in the United Kingdom. The previous year Herron had stood as an Independent candidate in the European Parliament Elections for North-East England, gaining almost 40,000 votes, over 5.1%.[19]

On April 16, 2007, the CDA hosted the Baldwin Society's Dinner at the Royal Overseas League in London's St.James's. Lauder-Frost made the speech of thanks to their guest-of-honour, Lord Norman Tebbit, which was well received.

The CDA produced a regular Bulletin, and maintained a website with discussion forums (now defunct).[20] Some CDA archival material can be found on the Traditional Britain Group website: https://traditionalbritain.org/blog/traditional-britain-group-cda-wgi-historical-archives/

Controversies

In 2002 an anti-Conservative Party advertisement for the CDA was published in Right Now! magazine, containing the statement that the CDA was "horrified by Tory frontbench spokesmen advocating gay lifestyles and New Labour ideas". Andrew Hunter MP withdrew his patronage from the magazine due to the appearance of the advert, saying that he was 'appalled' by the "antics" of the CDA and that he no longer wanted to be associated with the magazine "in any way".[21][22]

Also in 2002, Iain Duncan Smith then expelled CDA Chairman Michael Keith-Smith from the Conservative Party[23] apparently citing a newspaper article which stated the CDA was threatening to stand candidates against Conservatives.[24] Mike Smith immediately issued a Writ claiming Breach of Natural Justice and the party was obliged to re-admit him to membership.[25] Soon afterwards, however, he resigned from the Conservative Party, having made his point.

During 2008 it was reported that Mike Smith was unwell. He bizarrely changed his stance and announced on the CDA's forum that he had rejoined the Conservative Party: "After wide-ranging initial doubts, Mike Smith has now enthusiastically accepted David Cameron's reform agenda and returned to the Conservative Party from UKIP" and he began to urge the CDA committee to adopt the same idea.

As a result, the CDA Committee met in September 2008 and agreed that it would be best if the CDA was wound up. In December, Mike Smith announced on the CDA forums that the CDA would be disbanding as he himself had now come to support the Tories again and wanted to campaign for them in the run-up to the 2010 general election and circulated a letter to all members and supporters saying that the CDA membership lists would be transferred to the Traditional Britain Group and urging them to support the group.[26]

Michael Keith-Smith died unexpectedly at Portchester Castle, Fareham, Hampshire, on July 3, 2010.[27] Gregory Lauder-Frost and Sam Swerling attended his funeral.

References

  1. ↑ CDA homepage
  2. ↑ Daily Mirror, October 10, 2002, p.10.
  3. ↑ The Daily Telegraph, 24 August 2004
  4. ↑ The Commission for Racial Equality
  5. ↑ IDS and Le Fascist, Sunday Mirror, 11 November 2001
  6. ↑ Stalybridge and Hyde (UK Parliament constituency)
  7. ↑ Nottingham East (UK Parliament constituency)#Elections in the 1970s
  8. ↑ http://www.election.demon.co.uk/wcc/members.html
  9. ↑ http://home.btconnect.com/Larkfield_Parish/Counc08.html
  10. ↑ The Revolutionary Conservative (2): 16. 1993. 
  11. ↑ Searchlight magazine, London, January 2006, p.23
  12. ↑ About. Traditional Britain Group. Retrieved on 26 November 2012.
  13. ↑ Daily Mirror, October 10, 2002, p.10.
  14. ↑ Daily Mirror, October 10, 2002, p.10.
  15. ↑ Daily Mirror, October 10, 2002, p.10.
  16. ↑ The Independent, May 18, 2002.
  17. ↑ Election analysis: The effect of UKIP/Veritas, Richard North, The Bruges Group
  18. ↑ UKIP candidate wins £10,000 for internet libel
  19. ↑ North East England (European Parliament constituency)#cite note-10
  20. ↑ Conservative Democratic Alliance
  21. ↑ MP severs tie with far-right magazine, by Paul Waugh, The Independent, May 17, 2002
  22. ↑ Gay Life Magazine article
  23. ↑ Tory expelled over rival election plan, by Marie Woolf, The Independent, May 18, 2002
  24. ↑ Tory leader expels far right alliance chairman by Nicholas Watt, The Guardian, Saturday May 18, 2002
  25. ↑ Looking down on Armageddon, Searchlight Magazine
  26. ↑ http://www.traditionalbritain.org/
  27. ↑ http://www.portsmouth.co.uk/newshome/Tributes-paid-to-political-figure.6404791.jp
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