On Saturday, 24th October, the British Democrats held our Annual Conference in Hertfordshire. Without a doubt, the day represented a major step forward for the party, raising the bar for all future events.
Here is the stellar line-up of speakers we had the pleasure of hearing from.
(L–R): Mason Tomlin, Tristan Fisher, Councillor Chris Bateman, Matt Godden, Dr Jim Lewthwaite, Lena Kotré AfD Member of Parliament, Councillor Lawrence Rustem, and Kai Stephens.
Upon arrival, delegates were greeted in the foyer with tea and coffee before registering with our welcoming team to collect their conference passes.
The venue was immediately filled with energy as delegates mingled and networked, with many meeting face-to-face for the first time. A wonderful sense of optimism, unity, and camaraderie set the tone for the entire conference.
Our host for the day, Matt Godden, opened the proceedings with a warm welcome and an overview of the agenda. He then introduced Councillor Lawrence Rustem, who delivered a moving tribute to the late Richard Barnbrook, followed by a respectful two-minute silence observed in his memory.
Councillor Lawrence Rustem: Tribute to the late Richard Barnbrook. RIP
The first part of the meeting featured a series of outstanding speeches from East Midlands Organiser Tristan Fisher, Mason Tomlin, and Matt Godden himself, setting an exceptionally high standard for the rest of the event.
Tristan Fisher covered topics like conscription, social tensions, energy and fuel security.
Passionate speech from Mason on the theme of generational links and societal inheritance.
Matt Godden spoke on the tyranny ordinary Brits are facing.
Delegates then gathered for a buffet lunch, which provided a fantastic opportunity to relax, catch up, and exchange ideas on our plans for the future.
The second session of the day commenced with the absolute highlight of the event: a captivating and inspiring address from our special guest, Lena Kotré, AfD Member of the State Parliament of Brandenburg.
Lena Kotré: Passionate speech focussing on the success of the AFD in Germany.
The momentum continued with engaging speeches from Councillor Chris Bateman, Kai Stephens, and Party Chairman Dr Jim Lewthwaite, followed by an interactive Q&A session and panel discussion.
Chris Bateman: A hardworking representative speaking on community politics.
Kai Stephens speaks Passionately About Remigration Becoming Mainstream.
Party chairman Dr. Jim Lewthwaite spoke on various topics including the economy and our unique internal structure.
A 30-minute Q&A session followed, featuring several event speakers who answered questions from the audience.
Peter Finch, one of our key officials who works tirelessly behind the scenes, joined the discussion following the Q&A session.
We were also delighted to welcome Branko Rorić, political and strategic advisor for the AfD, as a special guest. Branko joined our Q&A panel to conclude the day and answer questions from the audience.
Branco Rorić taking questions from the audience
To wrap up the formal proceedings, Matt Godden announced that an impressive sum had been raised through raffle tickets, merchandise sales, and generous donations to support conference costs.
The day concluded with delegates unwinding over drinks at the bar, with many continuing into the evening for a meal and further conversation.
A huge thank you to our members and guests for attending, the superb speakers, and the officials who helped organise the event, including our registration desk stewards, those who sold merchandise and raffle tickets, and the team who set up the sound system! And, of course, a special thank you to our friends in the AfD who travelled all the way from Germany.
It was a truly fantastic day from start to finish!