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| The '''Swinton Circle''' (aka the London Swinton Circle) is a right-wing conservative ] pressure-group with links to the ]. It proclaims itself ] and ]. <ref></ref> | The '''Swinton Circle''' (aka the London Swinton Circle) is a right-wing conservative ] pressure-group with links to the ]. It proclaims itself ] and ]. <ref></ref> | ||
| The chief significance of the Swinton Circle today is that, following the repudiation of the ] by the Conservative Party Leadership <ref></ref>, the Circle is now the only right-wing pressure group to enjoy the favour of the Party, which permits MPs and other senior figures to address its meeting. (Conservative MPs are forbidden to be members of the Monday Club or to address its meetings) However, it has been repeatedly claimed in the national press that the views of the Circle are at least as extreme as those of the Monday Club.<ref> , , , , </ref> | The chief significance of the Swinton Circle today is that, following the repudiation of the ] by the Conservative Party Leadership <ref></ref>, the Circle is now the only right-wing pressure group to enjoy the favour of the Party, which permits MPs and other senior figures to address its meeting. (Conservative MPs are forbidden to be members of the Monday Club or to address its meetings) However, it has been repeatedly claimed in the national press that the views of the Circle are at least as extreme as those of the Monday Club.<ref> , , , , </ref> | ||
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| ==History== | ==History== | ||
| The London Swinton Circle was founded in 1961 by Conservatives who had attended Party training schools at ] in ], and who wished to maintain contact through regular meetings in ]. Since 1996 the group has widened its membership.<ref></ref> | The London Swinton Circle was founded in 1961 by Conservatives who had attended Party training schools at ] in ], and who wished to maintain contact through regular meetings in ]. Since 1996 the group has widened its membership.<ref></ref> | ||
| Prominent early members included ] MP and Bee Carthew of the ] <ref></ref> | Prominent early members included ] MP and Bee Carthew of the ] <ref></ref> | ||
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| At the 1982 Conservative Conference the Swinton Circle held a fringe meeting entitled "Repatriation - a Constructive Alternative" addressed by ], and the Circle regards itself as Powellite. | At the 1982 Conservative Conference the Swinton Circle held a fringe meeting entitled "Repatriation - a Constructive Alternative" addressed by ], and the Circle regards itself as Powellite. | ||
| The Chairman, Allan Robertson, publishes a monthly newsletter ''Tough Talking From The Right''. | |||
| Recent speakers have included:<ref></ref> | Recent speakers have included:<ref></ref> | ||
| * Dr Hazlett Lynch (West Tyrone Voice) | * Dr Hazlett Lynch (West Tyrone Voice) | ||
| * Cdr. John Muxworthy RN (UK National Defence Association) | * Cdr. John Muxworthy RN (UK National Defence Association) | ||
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| * ] MEP | * ] MEP | ||
| ==Expulsion of Former Chairman Alan Harvey== | |||
| The Swinton Circle was chaired for a period by ], a former ] activist who was subsequently alleged to be a "mole for the anti-fascist group ]".<ref></ref> | |||
| At a meeting held on July 22nd 2008 Alan Harvey protested in a very vocal and threatening manner over whether two people whom he personally had a grudge against should be allowed to attend the meeting, causing major embarrassment to the invited speaker. This followed a previous incident in 2005 when Harvey had to be "physically restrained" following a " furious and public row" with another guest<ref></ref>. Alan Harvey argued that his behaviour at the meeting was because of the alleged connections to the British National Party of one of the people he was screaming at. Ironically, Harvey had previously supported a ] "activist" as chairman for the Circle, describing their relationship as that of "good and close colleagues". | |||
| Alan Harvey was subsequently expelled as Chairman and from the Swinton Circle <ref></ref> for having "verbally abused" members<ref></ref> and having "brought a personal feud into a Circle meeting on 22/7 and his conduct was deemed unbecoming of that of a chairman", because "he attempted to sabotage" a meeting and "sabotaged the Circle's website" <ref></ref>. | |||
| ==References== | ==References== | ||
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| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| * | * | ||
| ] | ] | ||
Revision as of 10:10, 13 January 2009
The Swinton Circle (aka the London Swinton Circle) is a right-wing conservative British pressure-group with links to the Conservative Party. It proclaims itself Unionist and Eurosceptic.
The chief significance of the Swinton Circle today is that, following the repudiation of the Monday Club by the Conservative Party Leadership , the Circle is now the only right-wing pressure group to enjoy the favour of the Party, which permits MPs and other senior figures to address its meeting. (Conservative MPs are forbidden to be members of the Monday Club or to address its meetings) However, it has been repeatedly claimed in the national press that the views of the Circle are at least as extreme as those of the Monday Club.
Given that the Circle claims a membership in excess of 500 and increasing while the membership of the Monday Club is stated to be "back below 600" it can be argued that the Circle has now supplanted the Monday Club as the leading pressure group of the Conservative right.
History
The London Swinton Circle was founded in 1961 by Conservatives who had attended Party training schools at Swinton Castle in Yorkshire, and who wished to maintain contact through regular meetings in London. Since 1996 the group has widened its membership.
Prominent early members included Roger Moate MP and Bee Carthew of the Monday Club
At the 1982 Conservative Conference the Swinton Circle held a fringe meeting entitled "Repatriation - a Constructive Alternative" addressed by Enoch Powell, and the Circle regards itself as Powellite.
Recent speakers have included:
- Dr Hazlett Lynch (West Tyrone Voice)
- Cdr. John Muxworthy RN (UK National Defence Association)
- Douglas Carswell MP
- Tom Wise MEP
- Lord Stoddart of Swindon
- Peter Bone MP
- Nigel Farage MEP
References
- LSC Official Website
- Conservative Monday Club - Suspension of links by the Conservative party (2001)
- The Independent, Mirror, The Guardian, Progress Magazine, Independent on Sunday
- Conservative Monday Club - Suspension of links by the Conservative party (2001)
- LSC Official Website
- Encyclopedia of British and Irish Political Organizations
- LSC Official Website