An Apostate in London: Alex talks strategy about Scientology with an MP

Alex takes a very big step across the pond…

It’s lunch time on a typically rainy day in London. As I make my way up the steps and exit Westminster Tube station, I look up: Big Ben. I pause for a moment and take a breath. I’ve lived in London for 16 years, this sight is nothing new; but somehow it feels different. Unlike every other time I’ve been to Westminster, I’m not here sightseeing with a friend from out of town or grabbing a pint at a nearby pub.

I’m here for a meeting with a Member of Parliament.

The moment I walk through the door, I am confronted by a security guard who asks why I’m there and who I’m here to see, as if he had a list in his head of the thousands of politicians and civil servants who work in the building. He looked me up and down and double checked “is he expecting you?” I nod. “And it’s definitely in this building?”

Trying not to come across as rude, I say “yes” and proceed to place my belongings on the tray for the airport-style security scanner. He tells me to put my belongings in the tray and take my belt off, having just done it a few seconds prior. “Ah, security,” I think to myself as he hands me a bright orange lanyard with a laminated card that says ‘VISITOR’ in bold white letters. I am to keep this around my neck at all times, I am told.

A few moments later after going through a metal detector I find myself at the reception desk where I say the name of the person I am meeting. The receptionist asks for my name. “Alexander Bar-” she interrupts me and says “sorry, Al..?” I smile, and decide just to go for “Alex.”

“Right, and your surname?”

“Barnes-Ross”

“Sorry, Bard what?”

I spell my name out letter by letter and notice that instead of a computer, she is handwriting my name on a piece of paper, next to the name of who I’m seeing. It might be 2025 and the receptionist might be sat in front of a computer, but this is the government.. and that means paperwork. Literally.

I am directed to a seat in the foyer opposite a glass wall looking directly into a grand atrium. There’s a lot of hustle and bustle and people from all walks of life cross in front of me, shaking hands and heading on to the various committee rooms and chambers that surround us. It’s a diverse crowd of civil servants and politicians and as I sit there waiting to be collected, it dawns on me: this is the seat of power.

Important decisions get made here every single day that affect every single one of us. This is the building from which our country is run.

Across from where I’m sitting is a TV screen showing the title of the debate that is currently sitting: “Conditions Required for Economic Growth.” A maroon background suggests this is taking place in the House of Lords, as opposed to the Parliamentary green used to reference activities in the House of Commons.

Currently speaking is Lord Farmer. Ironic.

Lord Farmer is one of the Conservative party’s most wealthy and influential supporters with an estimated worth of £141 million according to the Sunday Times Rich List. He was made a life peer by former Prime Minister David Cameron in 2014, and his son George Farmer was once the Chairman of Turning Point UK, a controversial right-wing pressure group backed by Scientology millionaire John Mappin.

I gather my thoughts. This is the third time I’ve met with a Member of Parliament; each time feeling somewhat more confident in my position and what to expect, but also growing ever more conscious of the gravity of this movement. I am not here as a representative, but as a voice, and I start to feel the weight on my shoulders. “I am here for those whose voice has been taken away,” I remind myself.

The MP I am meeting has asked not to be identified at this early stage, so for the purposes of this article I will refer to him as George, which is not his real name, but he has given me permission to share some of what we discussed in loose terms.

George walks up to the glass revolving door opposite where I’m sitting and beckons me forward, holding a button on the other side to let me in. We shake hands and I remark at the beauty of the atrium. “Have you not been here before?” he asks, to which I explain it’s my first time here. “Wow” he says, “I would have thought you’d have been here loads!” To me, this is a promising sign he’s aware of this movement and suggests my activism and the efforts of protestors to raise public awareness has been somewhat successful.

We take a seat and get down to business. George is a newly elected MP and somebody I first established a relationship with during last year’s election campaign. He fills me in on what it’s been like settling into Westminster life and how he’s been navigating party politics since setting up his office. He has already been briefed on Scientology’s tactics, so I take up the opportunity to discuss where I think he could support us as survivors.

Back in 2015, “coercive or controlling behaviour” became a criminal offence under the Serious Crime Act and carries with it a penalty of five years’ imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. However, the clause was drafted specifically in relation to domestic abuse and so applies only to close personal relationships such as with a partner or a family member. The statutory guidance issued by the government says “Using religion and faith systems to control and subjugate a victim can be a form of emotional and psychological abuse. It is often characterised by a systematic pattern of controlling or coercive behaviour within a religious context, and can be perpetrated by a current or former partner, as well as family members.”

I explain to George that I believe there is scope to broaden this legislation so that it applies specifically to the relationship one might have directly with a group, such as a religious entity or a cult.

“That’s certainly doable,” he says.

Bingo. For months, I have been trawling through thousands of pages of legislation, court rulings and legal paperwork trying to establish the best way forward. In the past I’ve found it difficult to engage policymakers on the topic of Scientology abuse because it gets tricky when you start talking about freedom of belief, especially considering Scientology’s litigious nature. Very few politicians are willing to stick their head out and publicly oppose a specific group’s activities, but this might be a way of approaching the issue and differentiating between belief and behaviour. “It’s one thing to believe in L. Ron Hubbard’s ‘tech,’ but it’s another to harass and intimidate those who disagree,” I explain.

George agrees, and we begin to map out how to educate MPs on the issue and drum up support for a proposed amendment to the legislation.

He explains that MPs are able to arrange lobbying events on behalf of constituents, where people can book a room and an email goes out inviting all 650 sitting Members of Parliament to attend. “Whether or not they show up is another matter,” George explains, “but you’ll find many MPs will just drop in to grab the briefing sheet as they want to be informed, but don’t have the time to stick around for a longer conversation.”

I explain that I am part of a community of former Scientologists and activists who have been seeking justice, in some cases for decades, and that just the opportunity to share our concerns with Members of Parliament would go a long way in helping us feel heard. George agrees, and we start to talk about logistics.

I mention that in Scientology, you are prevented from reporting abuse to law enforcement and indoctrinated to believe that “the system” is dangerous and actively works to restrict your rights. I explain that for many people, it takes years of “deprogramming” before they are even able to consider seeking help, or reporting their abuse to the authorities. For this reason, I think educating MPs on the challenges we face as ex-Scientologists would help pave the way for people to come forward and feel safe sharing their personal stories with others.

George is sat opposite me not just patiently nodding, but proactively listening what I’m saying. He gave me his full, undivided attention and seemed to genuinely share my concerns… and I feel myself getting emotional. Here I am in the place where big decisions are made that shape our country’s future, and somebody who has a part to play in that is actually listening to our concerns about Scientology’s abusive practices.

George and I talk for some time and we discuss a handful of political allies who would be helpful to get on board, and how to engage them on the issue. I explain Scientology’s turbulent past in the UK: In 1971, the government commissioned an inquiry — the Foster Report — which raised significant concerns about the impact of Scientology’s practices on the mental health of vulnerable people; in 1984 High Court Judge Lord Justice Latey ruled Scientology is “harmful” and “dangerous,” and in 1999 the Charity Commission rejected Scientology because it “doesn’t benefit the public.” And yet, in 2013 Scientology chapels were designated “places of worship” and they have continued getting away with their abusive practices without scrutiny.

George and I agree there simply isn’t enough awareness among MPs of how this organisation operates, and we outline a plan for how to start changing that. There’s a lot of work to be done and this won’t be a quick process, but we have to take it one step at a time… and it feels like today was a step in the right direction.

Before Mike Rinder passed away, I told him I had this meeting in the diary and he said he would drop everything and be on the first plane to London to join me if he was well enough. I’m sad he couldn’t be there with me today, but he knew I’d carry on fighting in his honour.. and I will never give up.

— Alex Barnes-Ross

---

Want to help?

Please consider joining the Underground Bunker as a paid subscriber. Your $7 a month will go a long way to helping this news project stay independent, and you’ll get access to our special material for subscribers. Or, you can support the Underground Bunker with a Paypal contribution to bunkerfund@tonyortega.org, an account administered by the Bunker’s attorney, Scott Pilutik. And by request, this is our Venmo link, and for Zelle, please use (tonyo94 AT gmail). E-mail tips to tonyo94@gmail.com. Find us at Threads: tony.ortega.1044 and Bluesky: @tonyortega.bsky.social

For the full picture of what’s happening today in the world of Scientology, please join the conversation at tonyortega.org, where we’ve been reporting daily on David Miscavige’s cabal since 2012. There you’ll find additional stories, and our popular regular daily features:

Source Code: Actual things founder L. Ron Hubbard said on this date in history

Avast, Ye Mateys: Snapshots from Scientology’s years at sea

Overheard in the Freezone: Indie Hubbardism, one thought at a time

Past is Prologue: From this week in history at alt.religion.scientology

Random Howdy: Your daily dose of the Captain

Here’s the link to today’s post at tonyortega.org

And whatever you do, subscribe to this Substack so you get our breaking stories and daily features right to your email inbox every morning.

Paid subscribers get access to a special podcast series…

Group Therapy: Our round table of rowdy regulars on the week’s news