Patrick Moore - Activism and Political Beliefs

Activism and Political Beliefs

Moore is noted for his conservative political views. In the 1970s, he was Chairman of the anti-immigration United Country Party, a position he held until the party was absorbed by the New Britain Party in 1980. He campaigned for Edmund Iremonger in 1979, as both men agreed that the French and Germans were not to be trusted. Iremonger and Moore gave up political campaigning after deciding that they were Thatcherites. Moore later campaigned on behalf of Douglas Denny (UKIP) for the Chichester constituency in 2001. A Tory voter for many years, he now remains a supporter and patron of the eurosceptic UK Independence Party. He briefly supported the Liberal Party in the 1950s, though condemned the Liberal Democrats, stating that he believed that they could alter their position radically and "would happily join up with the BNP or the Socialist Workers Party... if they could win a few extra votes." He has also stated his admiration for the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, and wrote in his autobiography that Liechtenstein had the best political system in the world. Moore was a critic of George W. Bush's Iraq War, and has stated that "the world was a safer place when Ronald Reagan was in the White House".

Proudly declaring himself to be English (rather than British) with "not the slightest wish to integrate with anybody". He has stated his admiration for controversial former MP politician Enoch Powell. Moore devoted an entire chapter ("The Weak Arm of the Law") of his autobiography to denouncing modern British society, particularly "motorist-hunting" policemen, sentencing policy, as well as the Race Relations Act, Sex Discrimination Act and the "Thought Police / Politically Correct Brigade". He later wrote that "homosexuals are mainly responsible for the spreading of AIDS (the Garden of Eden is home of Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve)". However he cites his opposition to blood sports and capital punishment to dispute claims that he has radical ultra right-wing views.

In an interview with Radio Times, he provocatively asserted that the BBC was being "ruined by women", commenting that: "The trouble is that the BBC now is run by women and it shows: soap operas, cooking, quizzes, kitchen-sink plays. You wouldn’t have had that in the golden days." In response, a BBC spokeswoman described Moore as being one of TV's best-loved figures and remarked that his "forthright" views were "what we all love about him". In his June 2002 appearance on Room 101 he banished female news readers into Room 101.

"I may be accused of being a dinosaur, but I would remind you that dinosaurs ruled the Earth for a very long time." —Moore responds to those who criticise his Euro-sceptic and right-wing beliefs.

He is an opponent of fox hunting and blood sports. Though not a vegetarian, he has stated that he holds "a deep contempt for people who go out to kill merely to amuse themselves." He has been a lifelong animal lover, actively supporting many animal welfare charities (particularly Cats Protection). He has a particular affinity for cats and has stated that "a catless house is a soulless house".