Hard-right figures and US officials aligned with Donald Trump have taken aim at Ed Miliband and Britain's net zero policies at the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship (ARC) conference in London, dubbed by some as the 'anti-woke Davos'. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described Energy Secretary Ed Miliband as a 'villain' who has made the country poorer.
ARC conference draws global right-wing figures
More than 4,000 delegates from 85 countries are attending the ARC conference at Olympia, including Kemi Badenoch, US anti-abortion activists, European far-right parties, and representatives from the Trump administration. Themes include hostility to green policies, opposition to abortion, and anti-multiculturalism. Speakers include US state department officials who have interfered in Britain's abortion rights and online safety debates. Reform leader Nigel Farage is scheduled to address the conference on Wednesday.
US energy secretary criticizes UK energy policy
Chris Wright, Trump's energy secretary and former fossil fuel executive, described Britain's energy policies as a 'tragic mistake' that impoverished citizens. Wright, who believes the climate crisis threat is exaggerated, predicted a 'change of leadership' in the UK would reverse energy policy to align with the US. He spoke on one of the hottest days of the year in Britain, as delegates sweltered inside.
Badenoch targets Miliband
Speaking to Tory peer Philippa Stroud, a co-founder of ARC, Badenoch said there had been a 'villain in Britain's deindustrialisation' named Ed Miliband, who 'has made our country poorer.' She added, 'We need to make sure that this man should not be let anywhere near the levers of power, not the energy department or anywhere else.' Miliband has been a hate figure for the hard-right as the face of net zero policies and was recently mooted as a possible chancellor under Andy Burnham.
Funding from Trump donors and fossil fuel interests
The ARC conference is funded by US fossil fuel interests, major Trump donors, and anti-abortion groups. Analysis by DeSmog and Greenpeace's Unearthed found donors include Anthony Pratt, an Australian billionaire who donated $14m to the Trump-supporting Make America Great Again Super Pac and $1.1m to Trump's inaugural fund. Also on the donor list are American fossil fuel companies Howard Energy Partners (HEP) and Heyco Energy Group, which funded last year's event. HEP CEO Mike Howard, a Republican donor, was appointed to Trump's National Petroleum Council in February 2025. ARC is also backed by GB News owners Paul Marshall and Legatum.
