Liz Truss’ attempt to spearhead a ‘Trump-style revolution’ in the UK faced a disappointing turnout as she struggled to draw a crowd at her right-wing conference. The venue, with a capacity of 500 at CPAC GB, a British offshoot of the prominent pro-Trump conference in the US, remained sparsely populated for most of the first day. In an interview with the Mirror, Truss conceded that there is still work in progress.
Despite being organized by Truss, who affirmed her affiliation with the Conservative Party, the event featured appearances from other Tory members like Jacob Rees Mogg and Iain Duncan Smith, alongside Reform personalities such as unsuccessful by-election contender Matt Goodwin and Suella Braverman.
The gathering also saw the participation of individuals from the fringes of populist politics, including Trump-aligned influencer Jack Posobiec, far-right adolescent provocateur Young Bob, and George Simion, the Romanian far-right opposition leader, who made remarks related to the white supremacist conspiracy theory known as the “Great Replacement.”
When questioned about the diversity of attendees, Truss dismissed criticism as left-wing whataboutery, highlighting recent attacks against right-wing individuals and the need to avoid dehumanization and finger-pointing.
Truss engaged in a round of golf simulation at the event but admitted to not performing well. Earlier, she became emotional during tributes to former Conservative colleague Ann Widdecombe.
Regarding the low turnout, Jacob Rees Mogg attributed it to the event’s novelty and the need to build momentum, acknowledging the relative obscurity of CPAC in the UK and the geographical distance for those accustomed to central London venues.
Rees Mogg also expressed support for Nigel Farage in the Clacton by-election, emphasizing the importance of Farage’s role in the Reform movement.