UK conference venue Wyboston Lakes, situated on the Cambridgeshire/Bedfordshire border, has said it was duped into hiring out a meeting room to far-right political group Britain First over the weekend (2 December).
The venue said a five-hour meeting was booked in the Oakley Suite at short notice under the name ‘Patriot Merchandise’. Management said it was “deeply offended” when it found out who the delegates actually were.
Wyboston Lakes resort in Bedfordshire defended itself against a social media backlash after pictures emerged online of the conference. Images on social media showed the conference room decked out in banners saying ‘Taking our country back’. Wyboston Lakes released a statement on Sunday evening, saying: “Had we known the nature of the event being held by Britain First, we would not have taken the booking, as the values of our organisation conflicts with theirs in totality.
“We can fully understand the concerns expressed, but we can only refer to our company values and principles, our standing as an award-winning employer and assure everyone that we are deeply offended by their presence on our property.”
The statement added: “As a company that is proudly diverse and embracing of all cultures and nationalities, we are unhappy to have been associated.”
CN understands that Wyboston Lakes has donated the room hire fee, over £2,250, to charity.
Britain First’s conference came days after Donald Trump retweeted three anti-Muslim videos posted by the group’s deputy leader Jayda Fransen.
Read Wyboston Lakes’ statement in full here.
