League of Empire Loyalists
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The League of Empire Loyalists was a pressure group campaigning against the dissolution of the British Empire in the 1950s and 1960s.
It was a small group of current or ex- members of the Conservative Party led by Arthur K. Chesterton. They were well-known for various stunts at Conservative Party meetings and conferences (acting as a constant irritant to the party). These stunts included hiding underneath the speaker platform overnight to emerge during the conference in order to put across their points. The League found support from a number of Conservative Party members, although they were disliked very much by the leadership.
As time progressed the group became primarily concerned with opposing non-White immigration into Britain and were instrumental in the founding (with other right-wing groups) of the National Front in February, 1967.
According to historian Roger Eatwell:
"Most of its 2000-3000 active members were Colonel Blimpish rather than fascist: in fact many of its members saw it as a Conservative ginger group . . . an attempt to keep the Conservatives true to the Imperial way."