How the Church of Scientology Found its Way Into British Politics

How the Church of Scientology found its way into British politics

This Is London, January 12, 2007

The controversial Scientology sect was accused of trying to inflitrate British politics last night after it emerged that they paid thousands of pounds to both the Labour and Tory parties.

Members of Labour's ruling executive committee, on which Tony Blair sits, approved the payment from a charity which is closely linked to the Church of Scientology, which boasts Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and John Travolta among its members.

Labour allowed the charity, the Association for Better Living and Education (ABLE), to pay between £3,500 and £13,500 for a stall at the party's annual conference in Manchester.
Tory bosses also sanctioned a stand at their annual gathering in Bournemouth.

But MPs expressed concern after it emerged that they were part of an extensive lobbying operation by Scientology members to promote its drug treatment programme, Narconon, and the criminal rehabilitation scheme Criminon.

The "religion" founded by science fiction writer L Ron Hubbard, was once branded "corrupt, sinister, immoral and dangerous" by High Court judge Mr Justice Latey.

The Home Office has refused to sanction Narconon because it "does not meet the minimum standard for drug treatment delivery. It has never been funded by the Prison Service."

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