PROTESTORS came out to demonstrate against a conservative conference that took place at the Bournemouth International Centre on Saturday.

A range of groups were represented outside the entrance to the conference centre, including Extinction Rebellion and Stand Up to Racism.

They came out to protest the Conservative Democratic Organisation’s launch conference, titled ‘Take Control’.

The conference featured former Cabinet members and Tory heavyweights Jacob Rees-Mogg, Nadine Dorries and Priti Patel.

One protestor, Melinda Bower, said she felt the organisation had come to Bournemouth to bring the town “back into the fold” for the Conservatives after the local elections.

Bournemouth Echo: Protestors Ben and Melinda Bowers outside the BIC.

“I felt I had to come down, because we’ve got these people who are like this group from the ERG who have renamed themselves, that have decided to come down and make a new conference for themselves, as though it was an actual, official Tory conference,” she said.

“I think it’s clear that we don’t want them here, and here they are, so we’ve come down to protest about it.”

Another protestor, Ben from Extinction Rebellion, said he had come out to make it clear the group was “not welcome here”.

“Their policies, their ideas, everything they say, it’s horrific,” he said.

“The more you get to come out and say that doesn’t represent us, that doesn’t represent how we feel, the better.

“You’ve got to kick up a bit of a fuss.”

Bournemouth Echo: Protestors outside the BIC.

The protestors were protesting specific policies, including pollution and sewage being dumped in the waterways in the area.

Melinda said: “There’s all kinds of stuff that they’re doing, we are objecting to just everything they do.

“House prices are getting completely obscene around here, its really difficult for anybody to afford to be able to live, but none of the wages are going anywhere near what people need, either.

“They need to not be here, basically. I doubt even the Prime Minister thinks it’s a good idea that they’re here, not that I like to agree with him.”

Nigel Barrow added: “These guys want less regulation. We’ve got a completely dysfunctional society because of no regulation. We’ve got billionaires all over the place, because of no regulation.”

“He [Sunak] is de facto one of the most authoritarian Prime Ministers we’ve ever had, based on his policy programme, and these guys are far to the right of Sunak.”