Michael Keith Smith
Encyclopedia
Michael Keith Smith commonly known as Mike Smith, had been founder-chairman of the Conservative Democratic Alliance
, a British right-wing pressure group. He was also the successful claimant in Keith-Smith v Williams
, a landmark English libel case in 2006 that confirmed that existing libel laws applied to internet discussion. Michael Keith Smith died after falling from the keep at Porchester Castle on 3 July 2010.
in 1971. He was a member of its Hampshire branch before 1974, sometime its Vice-Chairman and elected Chairman in July 1987. He was co-opted onto the Club’s National Executive Council in 1984, where he remained until 1993. When Dr Mark Mayall stood down as Chairman at the Annual General Meeting in 1994, Michael Keith-Smith unsuccessfully stood for election to that post, losing to Lord Sudeley. In 1995 he stood as National Club Political Meetings Secretary, again unsuccessfully, somewhat surprising for someone who had sat on the Club’s executive for a decade. In his 1994 nomination statement circulated to the membership he said:
"The Club’s decline in numbers and influence will be reversed under my leadership as we join with like-minded Conservative Party pressure groups and Parliamentarians to fight the EU threat to British sovereignty. Our opposition to all forms of 'political correctness' and a commitment to the re-introduction of Capital and Corporal Punishment will spearhead a massive membership drive commencing immediately."
He was subsequently involved in "Tories Against Sleaze".
In 2001, the Monday Club's links with the Conservative Party
were suspended because of its anti-immigration policies, which nevertheless had not changed for decades. After attempts by the Monday Club hierarchy to re-establish links with the Conservative Party, Mike Smith proposed three motions at the Club's Annual General meeting in April 2002, reaffirming the its opposition to mass immigration, empowering Club officers to institute legal action against the Conservative Party, and calling for the sacking of former Monday Club member John Bercow
, then shadow Chief Secretary, and now Speaker of the House of Commons, for "hypocrisy". The first two motions were passed, with the one on Bercow being narrowly defeated.
(CDA), a new traditional Tory pressure-group and immediately targeted Oliver Letwin
's seat distributing leaflets saying that he was not a real Tory. In 2002, Iain Duncan Smith
expelled Mike Smith from the Conservative Party for threatening to stand candidates against Conservatives. Smith responded with a High Court writ, and Duncan Smith was forced to reinstate Smith's party membership. Iain Duncan Smith then reportedly said that he had "plans to make the Conservative Democratic Alliance a proscribed organisation, which would ban party members from belonging to it." In the event, no such action was taken.
Mike Smith later left the Conservative Party and stood as a parliamentary candidate for the United Kingdom Independence Party
in Portsmouth North
in 2005. The Labour victory was claimed by the Conservative candidate to be a result of the UKIP candidacy, a claim also made by Richard North of the Bruges Group
.
He became unwell in early 2008 and attempted to move the CDA closer to the centre ground, warmly endorsing party leader David Cameron
's "Agenda for Change" Smith declared in a speech that he wants to see more members of minority groups taking senior positions within the Conservative Party. This was greeted with disdain by the membership and supporters. In December 2008, he announced on the CDA's forum that he was disbanding the group so as to support the Tory party in the run-up to the next UK general election. The CDA committee met, and the group was wound up.
Conservative Democratic Alliance
The Conservative Democratic Alliance was a United Kingdom pressure group. The CDA referred to itself as the "authentic voice of conservatism"...
, a British right-wing pressure group. He was also the successful claimant in Keith-Smith v Williams
Keith-Smith v Williams
Keith-Smith v Williams is a 2006 English libel case that confirmed that existing libel laws applied to internet discussion.It was seen as important because it was seen as the first UK internet libel case that represented two individuals rather than one party being an Internet Service Provider, and...
, a landmark English libel case in 2006 that confirmed that existing libel laws applied to internet discussion. Michael Keith Smith died after falling from the keep at Porchester Castle on 3 July 2010.
Early politics
Mike Smith was a Chartered Surveyor. A member of the Conservative Party since 1970, he was Chairman of the Portsmouth South Young Conservatives 1972-76 and Vice-Chairman and Vice-President of the Wessex Young Conservatives between 1976–82; in 1984 he was elected President of the Portsmouth South Young Conservatives, and in the same year stood for Portsmouth City Council. From 1985 – 88 he was Vice-Chairman of Portsmouth South Conservative Association and in 1987 he was Deputy Chairman. He gained the Conservative National Union (Wessex) Public Speaking Award for 1991.Monday Club
He joined the Conservative Monday ClubConservative Monday Club
The Conservative Monday Club is a British pressure group "on the right-wing" of the Conservative Party.-Overview:...
in 1971. He was a member of its Hampshire branch before 1974, sometime its Vice-Chairman and elected Chairman in July 1987. He was co-opted onto the Club’s National Executive Council in 1984, where he remained until 1993. When Dr Mark Mayall stood down as Chairman at the Annual General Meeting in 1994, Michael Keith-Smith unsuccessfully stood for election to that post, losing to Lord Sudeley. In 1995 he stood as National Club Political Meetings Secretary, again unsuccessfully, somewhat surprising for someone who had sat on the Club’s executive for a decade. In his 1994 nomination statement circulated to the membership he said:
"The Club’s decline in numbers and influence will be reversed under my leadership as we join with like-minded Conservative Party pressure groups and Parliamentarians to fight the EU threat to British sovereignty. Our opposition to all forms of 'political correctness' and a commitment to the re-introduction of Capital and Corporal Punishment will spearhead a massive membership drive commencing immediately."
He was subsequently involved in "Tories Against Sleaze".
In 2001, the Monday Club's links with the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
were suspended because of its anti-immigration policies, which nevertheless had not changed for decades. After attempts by the Monday Club hierarchy to re-establish links with the Conservative Party, Mike Smith proposed three motions at the Club's Annual General meeting in April 2002, reaffirming the its opposition to mass immigration, empowering Club officers to institute legal action against the Conservative Party, and calling for the sacking of former Monday Club member John Bercow
John Bercow
John Simon Bercow is a British politician who has been the Speaker of the House of Commons in the United Kingdom since June 2009. Prior to his election to Speaker he was a member of the Conservative party....
, then shadow Chief Secretary, and now Speaker of the House of Commons, for "hypocrisy". The first two motions were passed, with the one on Bercow being narrowly defeated.
Conservative Democratic Alliance
In response to the Conservative Party's treatment of the Monday Club and the Club's lack of will to fight it, Mike Smith founded, in 2001, the Conservative Democratic AllianceConservative Democratic Alliance
The Conservative Democratic Alliance was a United Kingdom pressure group. The CDA referred to itself as the "authentic voice of conservatism"...
(CDA), a new traditional Tory pressure-group and immediately targeted Oliver Letwin
Oliver Letwin
Oliver Letwin MP FRSA is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he is currently the Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, and a Member of Parliament representing the constituency of West Dorset...
's seat distributing leaflets saying that he was not a real Tory. In 2002, Iain Duncan Smith
Iain Duncan Smith
George Iain Duncan Smith is a British Conservative politician. He is currently the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and was previously leader of the Conservative Party from September 2001 to October 2003...
expelled Mike Smith from the Conservative Party for threatening to stand candidates against Conservatives. Smith responded with a High Court writ, and Duncan Smith was forced to reinstate Smith's party membership. Iain Duncan Smith then reportedly said that he had "plans to make the Conservative Democratic Alliance a proscribed organisation, which would ban party members from belonging to it." In the event, no such action was taken.
Mike Smith later left the Conservative Party and stood as a parliamentary candidate for the United Kingdom Independence Party
United Kingdom Independence Party
The United Kingdom Independence Party is a eurosceptic and right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Whilst its primary goal is the UK's withdrawal from the European Union, the party has expanded beyond its single-issue image to develop a more comprehensive party platform.UKIP...
in Portsmouth North
Portsmouth North
Portsmouth North is a borough constituency which elects one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, by the first past the post voting system...
in 2005. The Labour victory was claimed by the Conservative candidate to be a result of the UKIP candidacy, a claim also made by Richard North of the Bruges Group
Bruges Group
The Bruges Group is a think tank based in the United Kingdom.The group is often associated with the Conservative Party, though it is independent of it and remains an all-party organisation...
.
He became unwell in early 2008 and attempted to move the CDA closer to the centre ground, warmly endorsing party leader David Cameron
David Cameron
David William Donald Cameron is the current Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service and Leader of the Conservative Party. Cameron represents Witney as its Member of Parliament ....
's "Agenda for Change" Smith declared in a speech that he wants to see more members of minority groups taking senior positions within the Conservative Party. This was greeted with disdain by the membership and supporters. In December 2008, he announced on the CDA's forum that he was disbanding the group so as to support the Tory party in the run-up to the next UK general election. The CDA committee met, and the group was wound up.