Both the American and European versions of the Tea Party are groups of reactionaries who believe that their traditional values are under threat from an unholy coalition of foreigners, immigrants, and rich, selfish elites who profit from their dealings with the first two. Their views of what constitutes “traditional values” varies dramatically, however.
The American franchise has a strong evangelical religious bent and is, therefore, highly moralistic. European versions, on the other hand, may well view a completely secular state as being a “traditional value.” Some European reactionaries even take the view that a strong welfare state (for the right people, of course), heavy governmental involvement in business, and extensive regulations favoring labor over capital are “traditional values.” As a result, an American would have some difficulty describing these as right-wing parties regardless of their similar attitudes on immigration.