Pauline Hanson tells London CPAC crowd she is ‘sick of hearing about white privilege’ and ‘fears for England’ | Pauline Hanson

Pauline Hanson told a political conference in London that Australia was following Britain on a path of cultural decline, blaming mass immigration, multiculturalism, Islam, net-zero policies and “woke” ideology such as support for trans rights.

The One Nation leader was in the UK alongside Nigel Farage and former British prime minister Liz Truss to speak at the launch of America’s influential Conservative Political Action Conference in England.

In a speech streamed live on YouTube on Saturday, he told the CPAC audience that although England is a beautiful country, London is not for him.

“I went to Tower Hamlets [a multicultural area in east London] just last week. Wasn’t this a rude awakening for me? I felt like I was in another country. “I didn’t believe this was England,” he said, later adding: “London? No, thank you. That’s my view… I see that happening in parts of Australia too… I’m scared for England, I really am. You were the crystal ball for me to come here and see what’s going on here. “I think we’re about five to 10 years behind the UK.”

Near the end of the speech, he told attendees: “Don’t apologize for being white. I’m tired of hearing about white privilege. We’re all human. We have to learn from the mistakes of the past, but we don’t repeat it in reverse now, and I see that happening.”

Hanson also spoke at a conference dinner on Friday (Saturday AEST), to which media were barred from attending. “Immigration is destroying our country, just as it is destroying yours,” he told attendees, according to a leaked audio recording of his speech, reported by Nine newspaper.

Farage, leader of Reform UK, compared Hanson’s poll surge to Donald Trump’s victory in the US in his speech on Friday.

“This political revolution took place in America, of course,” Farage said. “It’s happening in Australia as we speak. Pauline: incredible. What you’ve done to get to the top of the opinion polls is incredible.”

Elsewhere, Hanson denied rumors that he had a falling out with One Nation joiner Barnaby Joyce over his European tour and podcast with far-right British activist Tommy Robinson.

The One Nation leader also refused to bill taxpayers for any expenses arising from his trip with Gina Rinehart to the Dolce & Gabbana show in Sicily.

On Friday, Hanson appeared on an hour-long podcast with Robinson, a convicted criminal whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, in which he made a series of false claims about Muslim Australians.

Following reports that the podcast had worsened the growing dispute with Joyce, Hanson denied fighting with “my friend Barnaby” in a video filmed in London and shared on social media on Friday.

“We get along great together and she is having the time of her life,” Hanson said.

He said Joyce had called him earlier in the week and told him: “You are the best leader I have ever worked with in any political party.”

Joyce also denied a dispute, telling Channel Nine’s Today Show on Friday that people were “trying to divide us”.

“Pauline and I are very good friends,” Joyce said. “Frankly, when it comes to politics, I think it’s a very easy and constructive relationship.”

Joyce broke with his leader again, telling The Australian newspaper on Saturday that he disagreed with Hanson’s claim that Islam was “based on terrorism”. Australia’s Islamophobia ambassador said his language could have violent consequences.

Earlier in the week, the One Nation leader took a break from his trip to the UK to attend a Dolce & Gabbana event in Taormina, Sicily, with Rinehart, Australia’s richest person.

Norwegian football star Erling Haaland also attended the event, while Harper’s Bazaar reported that actors Christian Bale and Jennifer Lopez also attended the event.

In his video on Friday, Hanson said he was invited to the Sicily show after his attendance sparked criticism from leading party politicians.

“It was an experience, it was amazing, it was great to see, but it’s not something I would ever go to again,” Hanson said.

“I see a lot of jealousy out there. It doesn’t cost the taxpayers anything.”

In his video, Hanson did not detail the invitation or how the expenses were covered. He did not respond to a question from an ABC reporter in London on Friday whether he had paid for the trip to Italy.

Joyce said the amount Rinehart paid for Hanson’s visit was a “fair bet.” Rinehart’s company, Hancock Prospecting, referred questions to Hanson’s office when asked whether it facilitated Hanson’s invitation or covered his expenses.

Hanson lashed out after Liberal leader Angus Taylor said he was “living” in Italy rather than addressing One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts and his support of conspiracy theories.

“I can’t believe you, Angus,” he said.

“You’re essentially attacking me and saying I should go back to Australia and deal with the cost of living. So why don’t you talk to your members of parliament like Bridget McKenzie, Matt Sullivan and Colin Boyce, who are all here visiting Italy?”