Australia's former anti-immigrant politician, Pauline Hanson, is to become an immigrant herself, moving to Britain, to avoid lingering controversy over her sayings, "we are in danger of being swamped by Asians."

Hanson, who went from fish-and-chip shop owner to form the One Nation party and turn it into a political force more than a decade ago, told Australia's Woman's Day magazine that she is selling her Queensland home and moving to the UK to find "peace".

"I'm going to be away indefinitely. Its pretty much goodbye forever," she said. "I've really had enough. I want peace in my life. I want contentment, and that's what I'm aiming for."

Hanson won fame in 1996, entering national parliament as an independent calling for cuts to Aboriginal welfare and immigration from Australia's regional neighbours.

Her nationalist One Nation party drew a million votes at its 1998 peak, but she lost her seat and was later convicted of electoral fraud and briefly went to jail.

Hanson’s father is from England and her mother’s family are Irish, which means she can hold dual citizenship. She will leave her four adult children behind in Australia.

“Every country has something unique to offer, and I want to experience that,” Ms Hanson said.

Released in 2003 after her conviction was overturned, the red-headed mother of four left politics and became a minor celebrity, at one time entering a TV dancing competition.


Agencies