One Nation distances itself from meeting with UK activist

One Nation has distanced itself from a meeting between its leader and a UK activist following a week of declining poll numbers. The party’s top staffer said the network arranged the encounter after a previously scheduled interview was canceled. The staffer stated the network covered hotel, transport, and security costs for the meeting.

Internal tensions reported A person familiar with the party’s internal dynamics said disagreements have increased between the leader and a senior recruit. The same source said other figures within the party expressed concern that the meeting could affect efforts to attract swing voters.

The recruit told associates the decision to meet the activist was ill-advised, according to people in contact with the recruit. Both the party and the recruit stated their relationship remains intact.

Network response Senior network sources said the crew was invited by the party to film the activist interviewing the leader. The network booked a hotel room for the recording and provided security for its staff, the sources said. The network acknowledged paying standard production costs including the hotel room and security.

A spokeswoman said the resulting program will show the leader’s views after the UK visit. The leader has described the trip as a fact-finding mission that included travel through a town where roughly one-third of residents are Muslim, according to 2021 census data.

The staffer said the activist warned about prison conversions and advised monitoring similar patterns in Australia.