Pauline Hanson delivers CPAC London speech to mostly empty seats

Pauline Hanson has ended her trip to Britain and Europe on a muted note, after around 120 people attended her speech at a political conference in London on Saturday morning, local time.

The One Nation leader delivered an address to the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in London, titled The Australian Fight Back, which began about 15 minutes late.

By the time Senator Hanson took the stage at the InterContinental Hotel’s Arora Ballroom, fewer than a quarter of the available seats had been filled.

The 72-year-old veteran of right-wing politics also spoke at a gala dinner held the previous evening as part of the conference, which was better attended, though media were not invited to cover it.

Among those watching Senator Hanson’s speech on Saturday morning were at least a dozen journalists.

She told the crowd Australia had “gone woke”, complained about the levels of immigration in her country, and said the current government was prioritising environmental policies too much.

The One Nation leader has been in the United Kingdom and Europe for almost two weeks. She has described the trip as a “fact-finding mission”.

She told the crowd on Saturday morning that while Britain had many beautiful areas, its capital was not one of them.

“London, no thank you,” she said, highlighting the city’s multicultural communities as a major concern, before later adding she thought Australia was “about five to 10 years behind England, in where we are headed”.

“I’m not going to allow it to happen. I’m going to keep fighting this,” Senator Hanson said.

When she finished speaking, those in attendance gave the Australian a standing ovation.

During the trip, the One Nation leader found time to attend a Dolce & Gabbana fashion show in Sicily with her friend and political benefactor Gina Rinehart.

The pair were also spotted poolside at a luxury hotel in the tourist town of Taormina, where rooms can cost more than $5,000 for a one-night stay.

Senator Hanson refused to answer ABC questions about who funded that part of the trip, although she has said in a video posted to social media that it cost taxpayers nothing.

A spokesperson for the One Nation leader has said all taxpayer-funded travel would be disclosed publicly, in accordance with parliamentary rules.

While in the UK, Senator Hanson has met performer-turned-political activist Holly Vallance, as well as former British PM Liz Truss.

Her decision to tape a podcast with convicted criminal and right-wing activist Tommy Robinson — real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon — has drawn criticism.

Robinson has been jailed five times for multiple offences including fraud and assault.

The 43-year-old made headlines in Australia last month after he appeared on a separate podcast hosted by veteran television presenter Karl Stefanovic, who was fired by his long-time employer, Channel Nine, after it was published.

CPAC originated in the United States and typically comprises several days of speeches from a global who’s who of the right wing.

While multiple foreign countries, including Australia, have hosted their own CPAC events in the past, this is the first time the UK has staged one.

Before Friday night’s gala, British right-wing political leader Nigel Farage addressed the conference, where he praised Senator Hanson for her party’s rise in opinion polls.

Like One Nation, Mr Farage’s Reform UK party has also seen its popularity soar over the past 12 months. Deputy Nationals leader Bridget McKenzie is also scheduled to speak at CPAC later on Saturday.