Council launches enquiry into Homeland conference booking

NOTE: This article was published on 27 April 2025Ashley Baxter, the Leader of South Kesteven District Council released the following statement yesterday announcing an enquiry into how council premises came to be booked by the fascist Homeland Party for its ‘Remigration’ conference on Saturday. The venue, kept a closely guarded secret by Homeland, was first…

NOTE: This article was published on 27 April 2025
Kenny Smith at Remigration conference
Homeland Party boss Kenny Smith addresses the ‘Remigration’ conference

Ashley Baxter, the Leader of South Kesteven District Council released the following statement yesterday announcing an enquiry into how council premises came to be booked by the fascist Homeland Party for its ‘Remigration’ conference on Saturday.

The venue, kept a closely guarded secret by Homeland, was first revealed by Searchlight yesterday morning.

At 9.44 this morning, I received a phone call from an anti-fascist organisation informing me that the Far-Right Homeland Party were about to start a conference at Bourne Corn Exchange.

I immediately asked senior staff at the council to explain how and why such an event had been booked at the venue. No councillors or senior staff were aware, until this morning, that the event was taking place.

Spoken to police

All councillors and council staff receive PREVENT training and should be well-aware of the risks presented by far-right extremists. Furthermore, all council staff should be aware of the heightened political sensitivity during the pre-election period.

No booking should have been allowed from any political party during the weeks before an election. The council’s decision to allow today’s booking requires a full and thorough investigation.

The Deputy Returning Officer, Karen Bradford, has already made preparations for this to start on Monday. She has also, today, spoken to Lincolnshire Police about the event.

Disgusted

Unfortunately, this morning’s revelation of the conference venue did not allow enough time to cancel the booking nor prevent delegates from entering the building.

Therefore, for reasons of public order and public safety, the conference was allowed to proceed.

As Council Leader, I am personally disgusted and embarrassed that the event took place anywhere in South Kesteven.

Ashley Baxter

Leader of South Kesteven District Council


Alf Dubs

Lord Alf Dubs

Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.

Alf Dubs
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and Kindertransport child

Peter Hain

Peter Hain, founder of the ANL and friend of Searchlight

British Jews have been persecuted over the centuries; British blacks since the Windrush generation of the 1950s; British Muslims, especially after the Islamist 9/11 and then 7/7 terrorist attacks in New York 2001 and London 2005. But until the last few years there has not been a simultaneous threat against all three British communities of Jewish, Black and Muslim Britons – meaning the need for Searchlight has never been greater.

Peter Hain
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minster

Paul Holborow

Paul Holborow

In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.

Paul Holborow
Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

Nick Davies

Nick Davies

To investigate fascists takes real courage and unusual commitment. The government, police, mainstream media occasionally take a look, but in the UK only Searchlight have kept at it, relentlessly and admirably, regardless of threat or obstacle. It’s journalism that matters. A rare thing.

Nick Davies
Multi-award-winning investigative journalist and writer

Professor Colin Holmes

Professor Colin Holmes
Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.
Professor Colin Holmes
University of Sheffield

Paul Nowak

Paul Nowak

The essence of trade unionism is solidarity, fairness and equality – for all workers – from all backgrounds. That’s why our fight against the far-right has always been part of our movement’s DNA. Searchlight is an incredibly important resource for trade unions and members to understand the contemporary tactics of far-right activity. Their work and intelligence gathering over the years have been incredibly insightful for the work we do, and how we fight the scourge of fascism.

Paul Nowak
TUC General Secretary

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