https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/pol...k-Britons.html
Mr Rees-Mogg was told by anti-racism campaigners that the Traditional Britain Group, a discussion group for "disillusioned patriots", has links to the far-Right. But he was assured the claims were "smears", and attended as guest of honour at the group’s annual black tie dinner at London’s East India Club.
The group is run by Gregory Lauder-Frost, a former leading light of the Conservative Monday Club and a well-known figure within the British far-Right. He previously ran the Western Goals Institute, which had links to European neo-fascist parties.
He calls for the "assisted repatriation" of ethnic minority people whose families have moved to Britain since the Second World War, as advocated in the 1970 Conservative Party manifesto. He singled out Doreen Lawrence, Baroness Lawrence, the mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence.
Lauder-Frost, 62, told the Daily Telegraph: “I feel this woman has done the British nation no favours whatsoever. If these people don’t like us and want to keep attacking us they should go back to their natural homelands.”
The group describes Chuka Umunna, the shadow business secretary, as “a Nigerian” and calls for the repeal of race relations laws. Its president is Lord Sudely, a former president of the Monday Club, who has praised Hitler. Previous after-dinner speakers include Frank Ellis, the university lecturer who was suspended for claiming black people have lower IQs than white people.
Mr Rees-Mogg said he was “shocked” to learn of the group’s views and insisted he had never been a supporter or member.
“It’s undoubtedly embarrassing. I feel very silly. This was clearly a mistake,” he said. “I try to accept invitations from most people who ask me to speak. I could limit myself to just speaking to Conservative Associations, which would be safe but politics, is about speaking to a variety of views. But I wouldn’t want to be caught out in this way again.”
Before he was due to give his address, Mr Rees-Mogg was contacted by Searchlight, the anti-fascist research group, who warned him the Traditional Britain Group has right-wing links. He asked Conservative party headquarters for information on the group. At 6pm, an hour before the dinner was due to start, he rang Mr Lauder-Frost, who insisted his organisation had no ‘links’ to any other group. The pair did not discuss race or immigration, Lauder-Frost said.
Mr Lauder-Frost added: “We invited him specifically because he is a traditionalist. I’ve no idea how he managed to get through Central Office’s approved candidates list. We thought he might have been a breath of fresh air.”
Mr Lauder-Frost said he explained his views on immigration to Mr Rees-Mogg after dinner, but they did not agree, with Mr Rees-Mogg giving an "assimilationist response".
Sheila Gilmore, a Labour MP, said: “Jacob Rees-Mogg has made a serious error of judgement and must explain why he appears to have ignored Searchlight’s warning. Condoning views like is not harmless fun or mild eccentricity - it is deeply offensive.”
Mr Rees-Mogg, 44, is the son of William Rees-Mogg, the late editor of The Times, and is known in Parliament for his love of long words and esoteric historical references. He regularly writes for the Daily Telegraph. A recent article criticised the Metropolitan Police’s mistreatment of the Lawrence family.
The Conservative Party suspended its links with the Monday Club in 2001 over its rhetoric on race and immigration. A Tory source said: “It is categorically not the case that CCHQ in any way ‘cleared’ or approved this event.”
