"Je suis entré dans le rassemblement MAGA du magasin de livres de Liz Truss alors qu'elle importait le cirque de Donald Trump en Grande-Bretagne"

Liz Truss hosted a scaled-down version of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in London last week, drawing comparisons to Donald Trump’s annual event in the United States. The gathering, dubbed “CPAC GB,” took place in a medium-sized ballroom with 500 seats, though attendance remained sparse throughout much of the conference. Truss, who served as prime minister for just 45 days earlier this year, aimed to bring the U.S.-based event to the UK, but the turnout fell well below expectations. The event began with Truss making remarks about her vision for the conference, which she described as an opportunity to bring together like-minded individuals in the UK. However, the atmosphere was marked by a noticeable absence of large crowds, with many seats remaining unoccupied during key sessions. Despite this, the event did feature several notable speakers, including Nigel Farage, Suella Braverman, and Jacob Rees-Mogg, all of whom drew larger audiences than Truss herself. Farage delivered a speech in a smaller room, addressing the Clacton by-election campaign. His presence underscored the event’s focus on right-wing politics, with Truss appearing more as a supporting figure than the central attraction. Attendees included a range of conservative activists, lobbyists, and politicians, many of whom wore MAGA-style clothing and expressed strong opinions on various issues. Throughout the conference, Truss participated in various activities, including trying out a golf simulator, where she admitted she was not particularly skilled. Other moments of levity included Reform UK’s Andrea Jenkyns sharing an anecdote about showing her son episodes of Little Britain and Father Ted, only to be reminded of current restrictions on such content in schools. Truss also addressed topics related to her brief tenure as prime minister, criticizing the frequent turnover of leaders in the UK and predicting economic challenges for Andy Burnham. She accused her own party of being “ideologically captured” by diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, a statement that reflected her broader criticisms of modern conservatism. During interviews, Truss avoided direct answers to some questions, including inquiries about the ideological alignment of certain attendees. When asked about the relatively low turnout, she suggested that the event was still in its early stages and that awareness of CPAC in the UK was limited. This explanation contrasted with the enthusiasm of other participants, who acknowledged the event’s potential despite its modest start. The event also featured discussions around the influence of American political culture in the UK, with Truss expressing interest in a “Trump-style revolution” in British politics. While she acknowledged that such a movement was still a work in progress, her comments highlighted the ongoing fascination with U.S. political dynamics among some segments of the British right. As the conference concluded, the focus shifted to future plans, with organizers hoping to build on the experience and increase participation in subsequent events. For now, however, the inaugural CPAC GB remains a testament to the challenges of replicating a major U.S. political event in a different cultural and political context.