NI’s poshest hotel offers prize for hard-right gathering featuring conspiracy theorists and antivaxxers

NI’s poshest hotel offers prize for hard-right gathering featuring conspiracy theorists and antivaxxers

Author: Belfast Telegraph July 24, 2026 Duration: 18:58

Last week in London the great and good of the political right arrived for a conference focusing on ‘saving the west’. The three-day CPAC event hosted a star-studded cast – from Nigel Farage, to Liz Truss, to Ian Paisley Jr. It also hosted conspiracy theorist and anti-vaccine speakers. 

 

At the ‘Winston Churchill Gala Dinner’ in the programme, one of the prizes was a stay at The Galgorm, in Co. Antrim.  

The link between the event which a conservative critic has deemed ‘Yankee-brained slop’ and the hotel which is home to the most expensive guinness in the UK appears to be the former north Antrim MP. 


The Galgorm resort and spa says that the prize is not an endorsement of the event.  

Olivia Peden is joined by Sam McBride. 


 


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For a clear-eyed look at the politics and people shaping Northern Ireland, turn to The BelTel. This podcast moves beyond the headlines, offering context and depth on the stories dominating the conversation. Regular voices include seasoned journalists like Allison Morris, Sam McBride, and Suzanne Breen, who bring their sharp analysis and insider perspectives directly to you. Presented by Ciarán Dunbar, the discussions are timely, informed, and grounded in the region's complex reality. New episodes arrive three times a week, each one serving as an essential briefing that investigates pressing issues, debates differing viewpoints, and informs listeners with nuance. It’s a direct line to the heart of the news from those who know it best. This is a production from the Belfast Telegraph, hosted on Acast.
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