From DeSmog:
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage was the “special guest of honour” at the launch of the Heartland Institute’s new European offshoot on Tuesday (17 December).
…Heartland’s European branch will be run by Lois Perry, a climate science denier who has said it’s her “personal belief” that climate change “is happening” but “is not man made”. Perry followed in Farage’s footsteps earlier this year by becoming the leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP), though stood down after just 34 days.
Perry formerly ran the anti-net zero pressure group CAR26, which has claimed that carbon dioxide is “essential to all life” and that its “welcome growth has greened our planet saving countless human and other lives”.
DeSmog provides background detail on the group, which famously started out by attempting to discredit the health effects of second-hand smoking before moving onto climate change.
Perry was formerly in the news as Lois Hillgrove, when she was married to tax-dodging PR executive Richard Hillgrove (although it is not alleged she was aware of his financial arrangements). She stepped down from leadership of UKIP for health reasons earlier this year, but she also cited disagreements with other senior members on issues such as making links with Tommy Robinson (she was against it).
Farage’s appearence followed very shortly after he and new recruit Nick Candy were photographed with Elon Musk at Mar O’Lago, standing in front of a ludicrously idealised painting of a young Donald Trump. According to a write-up on the European Conservative website, the launch event was organised by Touchpoint Politics – a project of Tess Wheldon’s Touchpoint Strategy consulting firm – and held at Brooks’s Club in St James’s Street, London.
The Heartland UK/Europe Twitter/X feed has posted photos of Perry posing with various attendees, who are addressed in added commentary: Liz Truss (“Your leadership and dedication to economic growth and sound policy inspire our mission to champion freedom and free markets across the continent”); Dan Wootton (“brilliant”); Maajid Nawaz (“Your thoughtful perspective and dedication to free speech and liberty inspire us as we work to promote open dialogue and sound policy across the region”); Ann Widdicombe (“sensible insights and support”) and Lady Colin Campbell (“distinguished”). David Starkey was also present.
Nawaz also posted his own photo of himself with with Farage and Andrew Fox, to which he added his portentous “We Are Coming” mantra.
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