Conservative Party Vice President and Mayor of East Grinstead John Belsey has officially switched on the Church of Scientology’s Christmas lights at their UK headquarters in Sussex.
The local politician, who also holds a senior position within organisational structure of the national Conservative Party, was seen wearing his Mayoral chain on stage at Scientology’s Saint Hill compound as he led the countdown before switching on the Christmas lights.
Saint Hill once served as the worldwide headquarters of the controversial church and was home to founder L. Ron Hubbard before he fled the country after UK Health Minister Kenneth Robinson declared him an “undesirable alien” in July 1968. Since then, it has remained an important management outpost for Scientology and home to the annual gathering of their membership body, the International Association of Scientologists (IAS).
Local residents complained of the “chaos” and “disruption” caused by the IAS event, which took place last month in an illegal 45,000 square foot tent erected on the property without planning permission. Despite being issued a Planning Contravention Notice last year by Mid-Sussex District Council, the church went ahead with the construction of the mammoth marquee regardless leading to extensive damage to land surrounding the property, which is situated in a protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
At the event, Scientology donated £50,000 to Age UK, a charity that supports the elderly on which Mayor Belsey sits as a trustee. Although he did not attend the gathering to accept the cheque, his decision to turn on Saint Hill’s Christmas lights just weeks afterwards is undoubtedly a cause for concern considering the fact the property is currently under investigation by the Council for breaching planning laws.
In a video posted on social media, Belsey can be heard counting down before pulling a big lever to turn on the lights alongside Scientology spokesperson Liz Ostermann.
Scientology was denied charity status in 1999 after the Charity Commission determined it “does not benefit the public”. In 1984, High Court Judge Lord Justice Latey ruled Scientology was “dangerous, sinister and corrupt” and that the organisation was “out to capture people, especially children and vulnerable young people.”
Hubbard policy, known as ‘Safe Pointing‘, directs its members to forge relationships with local government officials in order to bring them under the Church’s “control”, explaining “politicians are like prostitutes, they are used.” The policy was uncovered during an FBI raid on Scientology properties in the United States which ultimately led to several senior executives, including L. Ron Hubbard’s wife, being found guilty of the largest infiltration of the US government in its history.
