Conservatives around world are ‘at war against leftwing globalists’, Bridget McKenzie tells CPAC London event

Bridget McKenzie: ‘We need to professionalise because our opponent is real, dangerous and wants to destroy us.’ Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP View image in fullscreen Bridget McKenzie: ‘We need to professionalise because our opponent is real, dangerous and wants to destroy us.’ Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP Conservatives around world are ‘at war against leftwing globalists’, Bridget McKenzie tells CPAC London event Nationals senator echoes comments by Pauline Hanson as Labor criticises One Nation leader’s divisive stance Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The National party’s Senate leader, Bridget McKenzie , has used an appearance at a conference of the populist right in London to declare that conservatives are “in a war” against mass immigration, “leftwing globalists” and “woke” institutions, and to urge rightwing movements across the English-speaking world to unite and fight back. McKenzie was speaking at the inaugural CPAC GB in London, a British spinoff of the influential US Conservative Political Action Conference , organised by the former British prime minister Liz Truss. She gave a speech on Saturday morning before appearing on a panel chaired by Truss, alongside other rightwing figures. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson also attended the event , part of a British tour that has drawn sustained criticism at home. McKenzie’s speech focused on Australia’s immigration program, saying Labor would oversee 2 million additional arrivals between 2022-23 and 2027-28 and arguing the country should be more selective about who was allowed to settle there. The federal Labor government has left Australia’s permanent migration level steady at 185,000 arrivals this year. Net overseas migration fell to 306,000 people in 2024-25, down from 429,000 a year earlier, according to ABS data. “If you love your country and respect your past and want to build a future for your children, I believe you shouldn’t be apologising for discriminating about who can come and live in your country, not on race, but on values,” McKenzie said. “If you believe sharia laws are superior to the laws that my great country inherited from yours, then I’m afraid Australia is not the place for you.” She framed many of the issues facing Australia and Britain as part of a broader ideological struggle, claiming there was a global effort “to undermine the very best of our British heritage by leftwing globalists”, whom she described as well-funded, disciplined and relentless. “We need to professionalise, because our opponent is real, dangerous and wants to destroy us. And our own compassion, kindness, tolerance – all those great Christian values – are literally allowing them to do it to us,” she said. “Do not mistake. We are in a war and we have to stand together and fight.” In a rallying call to the audience, she said: “We need to be brave in our public conversations … The people need leaders who are brave enough to fa