Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon (' Yaxley; born 27 November 1982), better known as Tommy Robinson, is a British
anti-Islam campaigner and one of the UK's most prominent
far-right
Far-right politics, often termed right-wing extremism, encompasses a range of ideologies that are marked by ultraconservatism, authoritarianism, ultranationalism, and nativism. This political spectrum situates itself on the far end of the ...
activists.
Robinson has been active in far-right politics for many years. He was a member of the
British National Party
The British National Party (BNP) is a Far-right politics, far-right, British fascism, fascist list of political parties in the United Kingdom, political party in the United Kingdom. It is headquartered in Wigton, Cumbria, and is led by Adam ...
(BNP), a
British fascist political party, from 2004 to 2005. For a short time in 2012 he was joint vice-chairman of the
British Freedom Party (BFP). He co-founded the
English Defence League
The English Defence League (EDL) was a Far-right politics, far-right, Islamophobia, Islamophobic organisation active in England from 2009 until the mid-late 2010s. A social movement and Advocacy group, pressure group that employed street demo ...
(EDL) in 2009 and led it until October 2013. In 2015 he became involved with the development of
Pegida UK
Pegida UK was an anti-Islam group in the United Kingdom established by Tommy Robinson in 2016. It was named after the German group Pegida – .
History
Following one attempted "Pegida UK" march in London in summer 2015 by ex-English Defence ...
, a now-defunct British chapter of the German
Pegida. From 2017 to 2018 he wrote and appeared in videos on the Canadian website ''
Rebel News
''Rebel News'' (also known as ''The Rebel Media'' and ''The Rebel'') is a Canadian far-right political and social commentary media website operated by Rebel News Network Ltd. It has been described as a "global platform" for the Islamophobia, a ...
''. In 2018 he also served as a
political advisor
Political consulting is a form of consulting that consists primarily of advising and assisting political campaigns. Although the most important role of political consultants is arguably the development and production of mass media (largely televisi ...
to
Gerard Batten
Gerard Joseph Batten (born 27 March 1954) is a British politician who served as the Leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) from 2018 to 2019. He was a founding member of the party in 1993, and served as a Member of the European Parliament ( ...
, then the leader of the
UK Independence Party
The UK Independence Party (UKIP, ) is a Eurosceptic, right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. The party reached its greatest level of success in the mid-2010s, when it gained two members of parliament (both through defect ...
(UKIP).
Robinson served four prison terms between 2005 and 2019. In 2013 he illegally entered the United States using a friend's passport. In 2018 he violated a court order by publishing a
Facebook Live
Facebook is a social-network service website launched on February 4, 2004, by Mark Zuckerberg. The following is a list of software and technology features that can be found on the Facebook website and mobile app and are available to users of ...
video of defendants entering court. Prior to sentencing, he appeared on the American far-right website ''
InfoWars'' to appeal for
political asylum
The right of asylum, sometimes called right of political asylum (''asylum'' ), is a juridical concept, under which people persecuted by their own rulers might be protected by another sovereignty, sovereign authority, such as a second country or ...
in the US. In 2021 he was subjected to a five-year stalking prevention order for harassing the journalist
Lizzie Dearden
Lizzie Dearden is an independent British journalist who worked at ''The Independent'' as Home Affairs and Security Correspondent between 2017 and 2021, and Home Affairs Editor until August 2023, writing on extremism, terrorism, crime, policing, ...
and her partner. In 2021 he was found to have
libelled a 15-year-old refugee at a school in
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire, England. It is the administrative centre and largest settlement in the Kirklees district. The town is in the foothills of the Pennines. The River Holme's confl ...
and was ordered to pay £100,000 plus legal costs. After breaching an injunction about repeating the libel, Robinson was sentenced to 18 months in prison for
contempt of court
Contempt of court, often referred to simply as "contempt", is the crime of being disobedient to or disrespectful toward a court of law and its officers in the form of behavior that opposes or defies the authority, justice, and dignity of the co ...
in October 2024; the sentence length was later reduced after he said he would comply with the injunction in future. In June 2022 Robinson said that he spent £100,000 in gambling before declaring
bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the deb ...
. He also said he owed an estimated £160,000 to
HM Revenue and Customs
His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (commonly HM Revenue and Customs, or HMRC, and formerly Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) is a department of the UK government responsible for the collection of taxes, the payment of some forms of stat ...
(HMRC). ''
The Times
''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'' said that he owes in the region of £2,000,000 to his creditors, and is the subject of a HMRC investigation over unpaid taxes.
Early life
Robinson was born in
Luton
Luton () is a town and borough in Bedfordshire, England. The borough had a population of 225,262 at the 2021 census.
Luton is on the River Lea, about north-west of London. The town's foundation dates to the sixth century as a Saxon settleme ...
on 27 November 1982. According to Robinson in 2013, he was born Stephen Yaxley in London, and later adopted by his stepfather, Thomas Lennon.
Robinson had an Irish mother and an English father. His mother, who worked at a local bakery, also worked at the
Vauxhall
Vauxhall ( , ) is an area of South London, within the London Borough of Lambeth. Named after a medieval manor called Fox Hall, it became well known for the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens.
From the Victorian period until the mid-20th century, Va ...
car plant in Luton.
[ After leaving school he applied to study aircraft engineering at ]Luton Airport
London Luton Airport is an international airport located in Luton, England, situated east of the town centre, and is the fourth-busiest airport serving London. The airport is owned by London Luton Airport Limited, a company wholly owned by ...
: "I got an apprenticeship 600 people applied for, and they took four people on". He qualified in 2003 after five years of study, but lost his job when he was convicted of assaulting an off-duty police officer in a drunken argument[ for which he served a 12-month prison sentence.]
The Tommy Robinson from whom Yaxley took his name was a prominent member of the Luton Town MIGs
The MIGs (Men in Gear) are a football hooligan "firm" associated with the English football club Luton Town, which was originally formed in the 1980s.
Background
The MIGs formed around 1982, taking over from the " bovver boy" skinhead type hooli ...
, a football hooligan crew which follows Luton Town
Luton Town Football Club is a professional association football, football club from Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The club currently competes in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system. Nicknamed "The Hatters", L ...
. The pseudonym successfully hid his identity and criminal history until the connection was uncovered in July 2010 by ''Searchlight
A searchlight (or spotlight) is an apparatus that combines an extremely luminosity, bright source (traditionally a carbon arc lamp) with a mirrored parabolic reflector to project a powerful beam of light of approximately parallel rays in a part ...
'' magazine.[Lowles, Nick and Cressy, Simon (July 2010) "The BNP Past of the EDL Leader", '']Searchlight
A searchlight (or spotlight) is an apparatus that combines an extremely luminosity, bright source (traditionally a carbon arc lamp) with a mirrored parabolic reflector to project a powerful beam of light of approximately parallel rays in a part ...
'' n.21, pp.4–5. He has also used the names Andrew McMaster, Paul Harris, Wayne King, and Stephen Lennon.
Personal life
Robinson married Jenna Vowles in 2011 after about 10 years together, and is the father of their three children. They divorced in February 2021.[ In 2010 he owned a tanning salon in ]Luton
Luton () is a town and borough in Bedfordshire, England. The borough had a population of 225,262 at the 2021 census.
Luton is on the River Lea, about north-west of London. The town's foundation dates to the sixth century as a Saxon settleme ...
.
English Defence League
Robinson founded the English Defence League
The English Defence League (EDL) was a Far-right politics, far-right, Islamophobia, Islamophobic organisation active in England from 2009 until the mid-late 2010s. A social movement and Advocacy group, pressure group that employed street demo ...
(EDL) in 2009 with his cousin Kevin Carroll, and became its leader with Carroll as deputy leader. Robinson stated that he was prompted to found the EDL after reading a newspaper article about local Islamists attempting to recruit men to fight for the Taliban
, leader1_title = Supreme Leader of Afghanistan, Supreme leaders
, leader1_name = {{indented plainlist,
* Mullah Omar{{Natural Causes{{nbsp(1994–2013)
* Akhtar Mansour{{Assassinated (2015–2016)
* Hibatullah Akhundzada (2016–present) ...
in Afghanistan outside a bakery in Luton. Many of the EDL's early members were recruited from football club supporters in Luton, London, Bristol and other English cities. Robinson described the EDL, shortly after it was founded, as being "against the rise of radical Islam". Paraic O'Brien, writing for the BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
, said that the organisation's rank-and-file were "loosely affiliated with football hooligan firms" and described themselves as anti-Islam.[ Robinson founded the European Defence League, a co-ordination of groups similar to the EDL operating in different European countries.][
In 2011 Robinson was convicted of using "threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour" during a fight between supporters of ]Luton Town
Luton Town Football Club is a professional association football, football club from Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The club currently competes in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system. Nicknamed "The Hatters", L ...
and Newport County in Luton the previous year. Robinson reportedly led the group of Luton fans and played an integral part in starting a 100-man brawl, during which he chanted, "EDL till I die." He was sentenced to a 12-month community rehabilitation order with 150 hours of unpaid work and a three-year ban from attending football matches.
Robinson was arrested again after an EDL demonstration in Tower Hamlets
The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a borough in London, England. Situated on the north bank of the River Thames and immediately east of the City of London, the borough spans much of the traditional East End of London and includes much of ...
in September 2011 for breach of bail conditions, as he had been banned from attending that demonstration. Robinson later began a hunger strike while on remand in HM Prison Bedford, saying that he was a "political prisoner of the state", and refused to eat what he believed was halal
''Halal'' (; ) is an Arabic word that translates to in English. Although the term ''halal'' is often associated with Islamic dietary laws, particularly meat that is slaughtered according to Islamic guidelines, it also governs ethical practices ...
meat. A handful of EDL supporters protested outside the prison in support of Robinson during his incarceration; the support peaked at a turnout of 100 protesters on 10 September. Robinson was released on bail on 12 September.
On 29 September 2011 Robinson was convicted of common assault
Common assault is an offence in English law. It is committed by a person who causes another person to apprehend the immediate use of unlawful violence by the defendant. In England and Wales, the penalty and mode of trial for this offence is pro ...
after headbutt
A headbutt or butt is a targeted strike (attack), strike with the head, typically involving the use of robust parts of the headbutter's Skull#Humans, cranium as the area of impact. The most effective headbutts strike the most sensitive areas of ...
ing a fellow EDL member at a rally in Blackburn
Blackburn () is an industrial town and the administrative centre of the Blackburn with Darwen borough in Lancashire, England. The town is north of the West Pennine Moors on the southern edge of the River Ribble, Ribble Valley, east of Preston ...
in April that year. He was sentenced to 12 weeks of imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.
On 8 November 2011 Robinson held a protest on the rooftop of the FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (), more commonly known by its acronym FIFA ( ), is the international self-regulatory governing body of association football, beach soccer, and futsal. It was founded on 21 May 1904 to o ...
headquarters in Zürich
Zurich (; ) is the list of cities in Switzerland, largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is in north-central Switzerland, at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich. , the municipality had 448,664 inhabitants. The ...
against FIFA's ruling that the England national football team
The England national football team have represented England in international Association football, football since the first international match in 1872. It is controlled by the Football Association (FA), the governing body for football in Eng ...
could not wear a Remembrance poppy
A remembrance poppy is an artificial flower worn in some countries to commemorate their military personnel who died in war. Remembrance poppies are produced by veterans' associations, which exchange the poppies for charitable donations used to g ...
symbol on their shirts. For this he was fined £3,000 and jailed for three days.
Robinson said that he was assaulted on 22 December 2011. He said this occurred after stopping his car due to another car flashing its lights at him, and that a group of three men attacked and beat him, until they were stopped by the arrival of a "good Samaritan
In most contexts, the concept of good denotes the conduct that should be preferred when posed with a choice between possible actions. Good is generally considered to be the opposite of evil. The specific meaning and etymology of the term and its ...
". Robinson said that the attackers were of Asian appearance. Bedfordshire Police
Bedfordshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire in England, which includes the unitary authorities of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton. Its headquarters are in the town of ...
stated that it was "unclear what the motive for the attack was".
In 2012 Robinson announced that he had joined the British Freedom Party (BFP). He was appointed as its joint vice-chairman along with Carroll after the EDL and the BFP agreed an electoral pact in 2011. However, on 11 October 2012, Robinson resigned from the BFP to concentrate on EDL activities. Robinson has been described as one of the counter-jihad
Counter-jihad (also known as the counter-jihad movement) is a self-titled Islamophobia, anti-Muslim political movement loosely consisting of authors, bloggers, think tanks, demonstrators, and other activists across the Western world. Proponents are ...
movement's most influential figures, with one report stating that by 2013 "Tommy Robinson now holds almost legendary status within this nascent movement, and is considered the "rock star" of the ECJM uropean Counter-Jihad Movement" Robinson attended official international counter-jihad
Counter-jihad (also known as the counter-jihad movement) is a self-titled Islamophobia, anti-Muslim political movement loosely consisting of authors, bloggers, think tanks, demonstrators, and other activists across the Western world. Proponents are ...
events in 2012 in Aarhus
Aarhus (, , ; officially spelled Århus from 1948 until 1 January 2011) is the second-largest city in Denmark and the seat of Aarhus municipality, Aarhus Municipality. It is located on the eastern shore of Jutland in the Kattegat sea and app ...
, Denmark, Stockholm
Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...
, Sweden and Brussels
Brussels, officially the Brussels-Capital Region, (All text and all but one graphic show the English name as Brussels-Capital Region.) is a Communities, regions and language areas of Belgium#Regions, region of Belgium comprising #Municipalit ...
, Belgium.
In April 2012 Robinson took part in the BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
series ''The Big Questions
''The Big Questions'' was an interfaith dialogue and ethics television programme usually presented by Nicky Campbell. It was broadcast live on BBC One on Sunday mornings, replacing ''The Heaven and Earth Show'' as the BBC's religious discussion ...
'', in which far-right extremism was debated. The series saw the British Muslim commentator Mo Ansar inviting Robinson to join him and his family for dinner, resulting in several meetings over the next 18 months to discuss Islam, Islamism
Islamism is a range of religious and political ideological movements that believe that Islam should influence political systems. Its proponents believe Islam is innately political, and that Islam as a political system is superior to communism ...
and the Muslim community; the meetings were captured in the BBC documentary ''When Tommy Met Mo''. On 8 October 2013 the think tank Quilliam held a press conference with Robinson and the EDL's deputy leader Kevin Carroll to announce that Robinson and Carroll had left the EDL. Robinson said that he had been considering leaving for a long time because of concerns over the "dangers of far-right extremism". He said, "I acknowledge the dangers of far-right extremism and the ongoing need to counter Islamist ideology not with violence but with better, democratic ideas." He left the EDL alongside 10 other senior figures, with Tim Ablitt becoming the EDL's new leader. When Robinson was questioned by ''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' about having blamed "every single Muslim" for "getting away" with the 7 July 2005 London bombings
The 7 July 2005 London bombings, also referred to as 7/7, were a series of four co-ordinated suicide attacks carried out by Islamist terrorists that targeted commuters travelling on Transport in London, London's public transport during the ...
, and for calling Islam a "fascist and violent" religion, he apologised. He also said that he would now give evidence to the police to help in their investigation of racists within the EDL, adding that "his future work would involve taking on radicalism on all fronts". He said in his autobiography that he was paid £2,000 per month for Quilliam to take credit for his leaving the EDL, which a Quilliam spokesperson denied.
Activities since 2014
Robinson spoke at the Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, England, whose membership is drawn primarily from the University of Oxford. Founded in 1823, it is one of Britain's oldest unive ...
on 26 November 2014. Unite Against Fascism
Unite Against Fascism (UAF) is a British anti-fascist group.
Its joint secretaries are Weyman Bennett and Sabby Dhalu, formerly of the National Assembly Against Racism (NAAR). Its chair is Steve Hart of Unite the Union and its assistant secre ...
(UAF) protested against his appearance, criticising the Union for allowing him the platform when, according to UAF, he had not renounced the views of the EDL. Robinson told the audience he was not allowed to talk about certain issues because he was out on prison licence. He said, "I regain my freedom of speech on the 22 July 2015." He criticised "politicians, the media, and police for failing to tackle certain criminal activities because of the fear of being labelled Islamophobic
Islamophobia is the irrational fear of, hostility towards, or hatred against the religion of Islam or Muslims in general. Islamophobia is primarily a form of religious or cultural bigotry; and people who harbour such sentiments often stereot ...
." He said that HM Prison Woodhill had become "an ISIS
Isis was a major goddess in ancient Egyptian religion whose worship spread throughout the Greco-Roman world. Isis was first mentioned in the Old Kingdom () as one of the main characters of the Osiris myth, in which she resurrects her sla ...
training camp", and that radicals were "running the wings".
After release from licence at the end of his sentence, Robinson returned to anti-Islam demonstrations with Pegida UK
Pegida UK was an anti-Islam group in the United Kingdom established by Tommy Robinson in 2016. It was named after the German group Pegida – .
History
Following one attempted "Pegida UK" march in London in summer 2015 by ex-English Defence ...
, a British offshoot of Pegida, a German anti-immigration organisation founded in Dresden
Dresden (; ; Upper Saxon German, Upper Saxon: ''Dräsdn''; , ) is the capital city of the States of Germany, German state of Saxony and its second most populous city after Leipzig. It is the List of cities in Germany by population, 12th most p ...
amidst the 2015 European migrant crisis
The 2015 European migrant crisis was a period of significantly increased movement of refugees and migrants into Europe, mostly from the Middle East. An estimated 1.3 million people came to the continent to request asylum, the most in a single ...
. Addressing a Pegida anti-Islam rally in October 2015, Robinson spoke out against what he perceived to be the threat of Islamist terrorists posing as refugees. He announced the creation of a "British chapter" of Pegida in December 2015. He said that alcohol and fighting would not be permitted because "it's too serious now for that stuff", and told ''The Daily Telegraph
''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...
'' that a mass demonstration would take place across Europe on 6 February 2016.[ On 14 February 2016 Robinson was attacked and treated at a hospital after leaving a nightclub in ]Essex
Essex ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East of England, and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, the North Sea to the east, Kent across the Thames Estuary to the ...
.
Robinson wrote an autobiography, ''Enemy of the State'', which he self-published in 2015.
Robinson travelled to watch UEFA Euro 2016
The 2016 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as UEFA Euro 2016 (stylised as UEFA EURO 2016) or simply Euro 2016, was the 15th UEFA European Championship, the quadrennial international men's association football, football ch ...
in France and demonstrated with a T-shirt and English flag ridiculing the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
The Islamic State (IS), also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and Daesh, is a transnational Salafi jihadist organization and unrecognized quasi-state. IS occupied signi ...
(ISIL). Bedfordshire Police
Bedfordshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the ceremonial county of Bedfordshire in England, which includes the unitary authorities of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Luton. Its headquarters are in the town of ...
imposed a football banning order on him on his return; his solicitor Alison Gurden accused the police of equating the proscribed terrorist group with all Muslims in their action. In September, a judge at Luton Magistrates' Court dismissed the case, calling the prosecution's evidence "vague" and "cagey".
On 27 August 2016, 18 Luton Town football supporters, including Robinson and his family, were ejected by police from pub in Cambridge
Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...
on the day of the Cambridge United
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Cambridge, England. They currently compete in EFL League Two, the fourth tier of the English football league system. Nicknamed the U’s, the club h ...
versus Luton football match. Robinson claimed he had been victimised, and complaints were submitted to Cambridge Police. In March 2019, at Peterborough County Court, Robinson accused Cambridgeshire Constabulary
Cambridgeshire Constabulary is the local territorial police force that covers the county of Cambridgeshire and the Peterborough district of the ceremonial county of Cambridgeshire administered by the unitary authority of Peterborough City Co ...
of harassment, direct discrimination, humiliation, causing him stress and anxiety and breaching his human rights
Human rights are universally recognized Morality, moral principles or Social norm, norms that establish standards of human behavior and are often protected by both Municipal law, national and international laws. These rights are considered ...
, namely the right to family life, right to freedom of conscience or religion, and freedom of expression. The claims related to police behaviour around Robinson possibly being issued a section 35 dispersal order at the pub after the match in 2016. The court rejected Robinson's claims and ordered him to pay £20,000 towards costs. Robinson said he would appeal against the ruling.
Robinson was a correspondent for ''Rebel News
''Rebel News'' (also known as ''The Rebel Media'' and ''The Rebel'') is a Canadian far-right political and social commentary media website operated by Rebel News Network Ltd. It has been described as a "global platform" for the Islamophobia, a ...
'', a Canadian far-right website. In May 2017 he was arrested for contempt of court
Contempt of court, often referred to simply as "contempt", is the crime of being disobedient to or disrespectful toward a court of law and its officers in the form of behavior that opposes or defies the authority, justice, and dignity of the co ...
after he attempted to film the defendants in an ongoing rape trial outside Canterbury Crown Court.
Robinson's second self-published book, ''Mohammed's Koran: Why Muslims Kill For Islam'' was co-authored with Peter McLoughlin and released in 2017. Amazon
Amazon most often refers to:
* Amazon River, in South America
* Amazon rainforest, a rainforest covering most of the Amazon basin
* Amazon (company), an American multinational technology company
* Amazons, a tribe of female warriors in Greek myth ...
has refused to sell it.
Robinson was involved in a fist fight at Royal Ascot
Ascot Racecourse is a dual-purpose British racecourse, located in Ascot, Berkshire, England, about 25 miles west of London. Ascot is used for thoroughbred horse racing, and it hosts 13 of Britain's 36 annual Flat Group 1 races and three Gra ...
later in June 2017, for which Piers Morgan
Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan (; O'Meara, born 30 March 1965) is an English journalist and media personality. He began his career in 1988 at the tabloid ''The Sun (United Kingdom), The Sun''. In 1994, at the age of 29, he was appointed editor of ...
criticised him on Twitter.
In March 2018 Robinson attended court in support of Mark Meechan
Mark Meechan () (born 19 October 1987) is a Scottish YouTuber, comedian, and former candidate for the European Parliament. He uses the pseudonym Count Dankula.
Meechan received press coverage when he posted a video showing him teaching his gir ...
, a Scottish YouTuber
A YouTuber is a content creator and social media influencer who uploads or creates videos on the online video-sharing website YouTube, typically posting to their personal YouTube channel. The term was first used in the English language in 2006 ...
who had been charged for a hate crime after posting footage online of a dog performing Nazi salutes in response to the phrases "gas the Jews" and "Sieg Heil". Meechan was found guilty because the video was "antisemitic and racist in nature" and was aggravated by religious prejudice. Meechan said that the video was taken out of context and was a joke to annoy his girlfriend.
In October 2018 further controversy arose after Robinson posted a joint photo with two dozen young British Army
The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...
"recruits" as he described them. He also posted on his Facebook page a video of the occasion in which the soldiers allegedly cheered him shouting his name. The British Army launched an investigation into the matter, saying, "Far-right ideology is completely at odds with the values and ethos of the armed forces. The armed forces have robust measures in place to ensure those exhibiting extremist views are neither tolerated nor permitted to serve." The Government's lead counter-extremism commissioner praised the army's response, saying, "This is typical of the far right. They manipulate and exploit their way into the mainstream, often targeting the military and co-opting its symbols. Tommy Robinson's attention-seeking is cover for divisive anti-Muslim hatred that is causing real harm to individuals, communities, and society in general."
In November 2018 he was appointed as " grooming gang advisor" to UKIP under Batten. In 2020 he visited Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness is a port town and civil parish (as just "Barrow") in the Westmorland and Furness district of Cumbria, England. Historic counties of England, Historically in the county of Lancashire, it was incorporated as a municipal borou ...
, Cumbria, following protests in support of Eleanor Williams, a teenager accused and later convicted of perverting the course of justice by lying about being raped by a grooming gang. Robinson visited the town despite her family asking him to stay away.
In 2019 he appeared to show support for an ex-British soldier facing prosecution for the murder of Irish civilians on Bloody Sunday (1972)
Bloody Sunday, or the Bogside Massacre, was a massacre on 30 January 1972 when British soldiers shot 26 unarmed civilians during a protest march in the Bogside area of Derry, Northern Ireland. Thirteen men were killed outright and the death o ...
in Northern Ireland. Robinson wore a badge that said "I support soldiers A–Z" after "Soldier F" was set to face charges for the murder of civilians.
In January 2019 Robinson livestreamed
Livestreaming, live-streaming, or live streaming is the streaming of video or audio in real time or near real time. While often referred to simply as ''streaming'', the real-time nature of livestreaming differentiates it from other non- live ...
himself causing a lockdown, by leading a group that surrounded a library where Stewart McDonald, then the member of Parliament for Glasgow South, was holding a 'surgery
Surgery is a medical specialty that uses manual and instrumental techniques to diagnose or treat pathological conditions (e.g., trauma, disease, injury, malignancy), to alter bodily functions (e.g., malabsorption created by bariatric surgery s ...
'. The group included the convicted armed kidnapper Daniel Thomas. The library was reportedly bombarded with phone calls. McDonald was eventually escorted away by police and said Robinson's party had blocked emergency exits.
In February 2019, using his Facebook
Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...
account, Robinson wrote "I guess it's ok to rape white women then?" next to a Rape Crisis flyer about specialist services for ethnic minority victims, resulting in hundreds of racist and abusive phone calls to the centre from Robinson's supporters. The centre, which was providing support for rape victims of all ethnic backgrounds, condemned Robinson's post for "disrupting much-needed service provision for victims and survivors of sexual violence and abuse of ''all'' ethnicities and backgrounds". The centre included specialised services for ethnic minorities because "some groups of women who have survived sexual violence and abuse can face additional barriers to accessing services, including related to language and to the fear and/or past or current experience of racism and racial discrimination".
On 23 February 2019 Robinson held a rally in MediaCityUK
MediaCityUK is a mixed-use property development on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal in City of Salford, Salford, Greater Manchester, England. The project was developed by The Peel Group, Peel Media; its principal tenants are Mass media, ...
outside the BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
's Salford
Salford ( ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city in Greater Manchester, England, on the western bank of the River Irwell which forms its boundary with Manchester city centre. Landmarks include the former Salford Town Hall, town hall, ...
, Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is a ceremonial county in North West England. It borders Lancashire to the north, Derbyshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Cheshire to the south, and Merseyside to the west. Its largest settlement is the city of Manchester. ...
offices to protest against the BBC's investigative current affairs programme ''Panorama
A panorama (formed from Greek language, Greek πᾶν "all" + ὅραμα "view") is any Obtuse angle, wide-angle view or representation of a physical space, whether in painting, drawing, photography (panoramic photography), film, seismic image ...
'' and its presenter John Sweeney. During the rally Robinson launched his film ''Panodrama'' that was broadcast on a large screen to the crowd of 4000 people, showing undercover footage of Sweeney, filmed by Robinson's former aide Lucy Brown. Batten spoke in support during the rally. Robinson said the aim of the protest was to make a stand "against the corrupt media" and called for the BBC licence fee to be scrapped. Concurrently, about 500 people attended a counter-protest by anti-fascists
Anti-fascism is a political movement in opposition to fascist ideologies, groups and individuals. Beginning in European countries in the 1920s, it was at its most significant shortly before and during World War II, where the Axis powers were op ...
. In response the BBC made an announcement that it strongly rejects any suggestion that its journalism is biased. Confirming that an upcoming ''Panorama'' episode was being prepared to investigate Robinson and his activities, it added that all programmes the BBC broadcasts follow BBC's "strict editorial guidelines". Regarding some of Sweeney's remarks during Robinson's ''Panodrama'' film exposé, the BBC announcement added: "Some of the footage which has been released was recorded without our knowledge during this investigation and John Sweeney made some offensive and inappropriate remarks, for which he apologises."
On 4 March 2019, at 11 pm, Robinson arrived uninvited outside the home of a journalist who covers far-right issues and attempted to intimidate him. Robinson revealed the journalist's address on a livestream
Livestreaming, live-streaming, or live streaming is the streaming media, streaming of video or Digital audio, audio in real-time communication, real time or near real time. While often referred to simply as ''streaming'', the real-time nature ...
and threatened to reveal the addresses of other journalists. He left after police arrived, but returned at 5 am. Robinson said this was an act of retaliation for having been served a legal letter at his parents-in-law's home, an act which he said was videoed and which he described as harassment. Robinson gave no indication that the journalist he attempted to intimidate had been involved in that alleged act. The journalist said the letter had been given to a police officer 50 metres from the house in question.
In January 2020 Robinson was given the Sappho Award (also known as the International Free Press award) by the Danish Free Press Society at Christiansborg Palace
Christiansborg Palace (, ) is a palace and government building on the islet of Slotsholmen in central Copenhagen, Denmark. It is the seat of the Danish Parliament (), the Danish Prime Minister's Office, and the Supreme Court of Denmark. Also ...
in Copenhagen
Copenhagen ( ) is the capital and most populous city of Denmark, with a population of 1.4 million in the Urban area of Copenhagen, urban area. The city is situated on the islands of Zealand and Amager, separated from Malmö, Sweden, by the ...
. The International Free Press Society
The International Free Press Society (IFPS), founded in 2009, is a creation of the Danish Free Press Society. The stated purpose of IFPS "is to defend freedom of expression wherever and by whomever it is threatened". It has been described as a k ...
is closely connected to the counterjihad movement and Liz Fekete, the executive director of the Institute of Race Relations
The Institute of Race Relations (IRR) is a think tank based in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1958 in order to publish research on race relations worldwide, and in 1972 was transformed into an "anti-racist think tank".
Proposed by ''Sund ...
in Britain, has suggested that it is an instrument for pushing the boundaries of hate speech
Hate speech is a term with varied meaning and has no single, consistent definition. It is defined by the ''Cambridge Dictionary'' as "public speech that expresses hate or encourages violence towards a person or group based on something such as ...
.
On 1 November 2020 Robinson was arrested at Speakers' Corner
A Speakers' Corner is an area where free speech public speaking, open-air public speaking, debate, and discussion are allowed. The original and best known is in the north-east corner of Hyde Park, London, Hyde Park in London, England. Histor ...
in Hyde Park, London, for breaking COVID-19 lockdown rules. Robinson has promoted debunked conspiracy theories
A conspiracy theory is an explanation for an event or situation that asserts the existence of a conspiracy (generally by powerful sinister groups, often political in motivation), when other explanations are more probable.Additional sources:
*
...
about COVID-19 vaccine
A COVID19 vaccine is a vaccine intended to provide acquired immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 ( COVID19).
Knowledge about the structure and fun ...
s.
In May 2021 he attended a march in London in support of Israel.
In response to the Telford child sexual exploitation scandal
The Telford child sexual exploitation scandal is an ongoing scandal spanning over several decades in the United Kingdom involving a group of men who were criminal conviction, convicted of engaging in sexual contact with local female minors betwee ...
, Robinson held a protest in January 2022 where he screened his 73-minute documentary about Muslim grooming gangs, titled ''The Rape of Britain: Survivor Stories''.
Communication with Finsbury Park mosque attacker
It was revealed in court that the perpetrator of the 2017 Finsbury Park mosque terrorist attack had subscribed to email updates from Robinson's website and read Robinson's tweets in the lead-up to the attack. Robinson's tweet mocking people for responding to terrorism with the phrase "don't look back in anger" was found in the note at the scene of the attack. An email from Robinson's account to the attacker Darren Osborne shortly before read, "Dear Darren, you know about the terrible crimes committed against ame redactedof Sunderland. Police let the suspects go ... why? It is because the suspects are refugees from Syria and Iraq. It's a national outrage ..." Another email read, "There is a nation within a nation forming just beneath the surface of the UK. It is a nation built on hatred, on violence and on Islam."
Robinson responded on Twitter to the attack, writing "The mosque where the attack happened tonight has a long history of creating terrorists & radical jihadists & promoting hate & segregation" and, "I'm not justifying it, I've said many times if government or police don't sort these centres of hate they will create monsters as seen tonight." Robinson's statements were widely criticised in the media as inciting hatred. Appearing the next morning on '' Good Morning Britain'', Robinson held up the Quran
The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...
and described it as a "violent and cursed book". The host, Piers Morgan, accused him of "stirring up hatred like a bigoted lunatic", and Robinson's appearance drew a number of complaints to Ofcom
The Office of Communications, commonly known as Ofcom, is the government-approved regulatory and competition authority for the broadcasting, internet, telecommunications and mail, postal industries of the United Kingdom.
Ofcom has wide-rang ...
.
Commander Dean Haydon of Scotland Yard
Scotland Yard (officially New Scotland Yard) is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police, the territorial police force responsible for policing Greater London's London boroughs, 32 boroughs. Its name derives from the location of the original ...
's counter-terrorism command said that online material from Robinson had played a "significant role" in how Osborne was radicalised and "brainwashed". Mark Rowley, the outgoing assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police and the UK's most senior counter-terrorism officer said that there is "no doubt" that material posted online by people including Robinson drove the Finsbury Park terror attacker to targeting Muslims. In response, Robinson said, "I'm gonna find Mark Rowley."
Hearts of Oak
In February 2020 Robinson, Carl Benjamin
Carl Charles Benjamin (born September 1979), also known by his online pseudonym Sargon of Akkad, is a British right-wing YouTuber and political commentator. A former member of the Eurosceptic UK Independence Party (UKIP), he was one of its uns ...
(also known as "Sargon of Akkad") and other former UKIP members launched the far-right organisation Hearts of Oak. At its launch the members said that it is not a political party but a "cultural movement", whose key issues include "strong borders, immigration, and national identity", "authorities privileging and protecting Islam alone" and "freedom of speech". Other contributors to Hearts of Oak include Niall McRae, the co-author of an Islamophobic and antisemitic conspiracy booklet, and Catherine Blaiklock, the former leader of the Brexit Party
Reform UK is a right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. Nigel Farage has been Leader of Reform UK and Richard Tice deputy leader since 2024. It has five members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons and one membe ...
.
Vice World News found eight separate companies currently or formerly run from the same address whose directors are members of the Orthodox Conservatives, the Bow Group
The Bow Group is a UK-based think tank promoting conservative opinion. Founded in 1951, it is the oldest group of its kind, counting many senior Conservative Party MPs and peers among its members. It represents a forum for political debate with ...
or Turning Point UK
Turning Point UK (TPUK) is a British offshoot of the American student pressure group Turning Point USA. The UK group was set up to promote right-wing politics in UK schools, colleges and universities, with the stated aim of countering what Turni ...
.
Robinson and Benjamin pre-recorded a speech that was displayed at a protest on 1 August 2020 demanding the deportation of the men involved in the Rochdale child sex abuse ring
The Rochdale child sex abuse ring targeted underage teenage girls in Rochdale, Greater Manchester, England. Nine men were convicted of sex trafficking and other offences including rape, trafficking girls for sex and conspiracy to engage in sexua ...
. Richard Inman, the founder of Veterans Against Terrorism, a campaign group with far-right associations, was also a speaker and demanded the death penalty, stating "this rape epidemic" is "carried out by one section of the community", referring to Muslim Pakistani men. However, a 2011 government report showed that almost 85% of men found guilty of sexual activity with a minor in England and Wales were white.
Antifascist counter-protestors produced a leaflet that said "Hearts of Oak are ideologically based on Islamophobia, racism, and nationalism. By focusing only on sexual attacks by Muslims, they dismiss all other sexual attacks by men who are not Muslims. Singling out one group of people as the sole perpetrators of sexual crimes is a lie and it is racist. Focusing exclusively on sexual crimes and violence against women committed by Muslims is sexist, as it deliberately forgets all the other victims of sexual crimes and violence against women." As the protest finished, Stand Up to Racism tweeted, "Several speakers didn't show & the 'highlight' of Tommy Robinson's video message went down poorly ..Hearts of Oak are going nowhere."
On 18 September 2022 Standing for Women, founded by Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull
Kellie-Jay Nyishie Keen-Minshull ( Keen; born June 1974), also known as Posie Parker, is a British anti-transgender and gender-critical activist. She is the leader of the political party Party of Women. She describes herself as a woman's ...
, held a public rally in Brighton
Brighton ( ) is a seaside resort in the city status in the United Kingdom, city of Brighton and Hove, East Sussex, England, south of London.
Archaeological evidence of settlement in the area dates back to the Bronze Age Britain, Bronze Age, R ...
. Hearts of Oak attended and live-streamed from the front of the inner circle at the rally.
Russian links
In February 2020 Robinson travelled to Russia, visiting Moscow and Saint Petersburg for a series of talks, meetings and media appearances. Russian state media gave Robinson positive coverage, depicting him as a victim of censorship and oppression by the European Union
The European Union (EU) is a supranational union, supranational political union, political and economic union of Member state of the European Union, member states that are Geography of the European Union, located primarily in Europe. The u ...
. He voiced support for the Russian president
The president of Russia, officially the president of the Russian Federation (), is the executive head of state of Russia. The president is the chair of the Federal State Council and the supreme commander-in-chief of the Russian Armed Forces. I ...
, Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Ru ...
. ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' alleged that the trip "was actually a front for his real purpose, which was to seek out Russian bank accounts where he could hide his money". The following year, he made a video in support of the Russian political party For Truth (; ''Za Pravdu''). Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...
, Robinson spread pro-Russian disinformation about the war.
2024 United Kingdom riots
After leaving the UK for Cyprus in July 2024, Robinson was accused of spreading misinformation about the perpetrator of the mass stabbing of children in Southport
Southport is a seaside resort, seaside town in the Metropolitan Borough of Sefton in Merseyside, England. It lies on the West Lancashire Coastal Plain, West Lancashire coastal plain and the east coast of the Irish Sea, approximately north of ...
. False claims that the perpetrator was a Muslim asylum seeker led to violent far-right riots across the UK. Rioters in Southport were heard chanting Robinson's name and "Who the f*** is Allah?". UK prosecutors have begun to investigate Robinson for his alleged role in inciting the riots.
Involvement in electoral politics
Robinson joined the far-right and fascist British National Party
The British National Party (BNP) is a Far-right politics, far-right, British fascism, fascist list of political parties in the United Kingdom, political party in the United Kingdom. It is headquartered in Wigton, Cumbria, and is led by Adam ...
(BNP), then led by Nick Griffin
Nicholas John Griffin (born 1 March 1959) is a British far-right politician who was chairman of the British National Party (BNP) from 1999 to 2014, and a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for North West England from 2009 to 2014. Follow ...
, in 2004. When questioned about this by the journalist Andrew Neil
Andrew Ferguson Neil (born 21 May 1949) is a British journalist and broadcaster. He was editor of ''The Sunday Times'' from 1983 to 1994. He has presented various political programmes on the BBC and on Channel 4. Born in Paisley, Renfrewshire ...
in June 2013, he said that he had left after one year because he did not know Griffin was in the National Front or that non-whites could not join the organisation: "I joined, I saw what it was about, it was not for me."[ He was involved with the group United Peoples of Luton, formed in response to a March 2009 protest against ]Royal Anglian Regiment
The Royal Anglian Regiment is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It consists of two Regular battalions and one Army Reserve (United Kingdom), Reserve battalion. The modern regiment was formed in 1964, making it the oldest of the line regi ...
troops returning from the Afghan War
War in Afghanistan, Afghan war, or Afghan civil war may refer to:
*Conquest of Afghanistan by Alexander the Great (330 BC – 327 BC), the conquest of Afghanistan by the Macedonian Empire
*Muslim conquests of Afghanistan, a series of campaigns in t ...
being attacked by the Islamist groups Al-Muhajiroun
Al-Muhajiroun (, "The Emigrants") is a Proscription, proscribed terrorist network based in Saudi Arabia and active for many years in the United Kingdom. The group was founded by Omar Bakri Muhammad, a Syrian who previously belonged to ''Hizb ut- ...
and Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jamaah is the formal name used by Sunni Muslims to refer to Sunni Islam. It may also refer to:
* Ahlus Sunnah Wal Jam'ah Association of Australia, a Sunni organisation
* Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a
Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a (ASWJ) () is a ...
.
In September 2018 Robinson expressed a desire to join the UK Independence Party
The UK Independence Party (UKIP, ) is a Eurosceptic, right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. The party reached its greatest level of success in the mid-2010s, when it gained two members of parliament (both through defect ...
(UKIP). On 23 November 2018 UKIP leader Gerard Batten
Gerard Joseph Batten (born 27 March 1954) is a British politician who served as the Leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) from 2018 to 2019. He was a founding member of the party in 1993, and served as a Member of the European Parliament ( ...
appointed Robinson as his own advisor.[ In response, the former UKIP leader ]Nigel Farage
Nigel Paul Farage ( ; born 3 April 1964) is a British politician and broadcaster who has been Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Member of Parliament (MP) for Clacton (UK Parliament constituency), Clacton and Leader of Reform UK since 20 ...
described Robinson as a "thug" and said he was heartbroken with the direction UKIP was going. Farage and a Senedd
The Senedd ( ; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, Its role is to scrutinise the Welsh Government and legislate on devolve ...
member called for Batten to be removed as leader. At a UKIP meeting on 30 November, Robinson sat with Daniel Thomas, a convicted kidnapper.
Many prominent UKIP members, including eight of its members of the European Parliament
A member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament.
When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the European Coal and Steel Comm ...
, resigned from the party in response to Robinson's appointment. Of the eight MEPs who left, two were former party leaders. One was UKIP's leader in Scotland; and another was Farage, who said Robinson and his associates brought "scuffles" and "violence" into the party and "many have criminal records, some pretty serious".
UKIP's rules deny membership to those who have been part of extreme right-wing groups in the past: these preclude Robinson from joining, as he founded the English Defence League (EDL), had been a member of the British National Party
The British National Party (BNP) is a Far-right politics, far-right, British fascism, fascist list of political parties in the United Kingdom, political party in the United Kingdom. It is headquartered in Wigton, Cumbria, and is led by Adam ...
, and has had ties with the British Freedom Party. UKIP's National Executive Committee considered waiving that clause for Robinson as a special case. If approved, his possible membership would be put to a vote at the party's conference. Batten supported Robinson joining the party, while the UKIP Senedd members Michelle Brown
Michelle Margaret Freda Brown (born 30 December 1969) is a British lawyer and former politician who was a Member of the Senedd (MS) for North Wales (Senedd electoral region), North Wales from 2016 National Assembly for Wales election, 2016 to 2 ...
and David Rowlands said they opposed it.
On 25 April 2019 Robinson announced that he would be an independent candidate at the 2019 European Parliament election
The 2019 European Parliament election was held in the European Union (EU) between 23 and 26 May 2019. It was the ninth parliamentary election since the first direct elections in 1979. A total of 751 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) we ...
in North West England
North West England is one of nine official regions of England and consists of the ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial counties of Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside. The North West had a population of 7,4 ...
. It was reported that Anne Marie Waters
Anne Marie Dorothy Waters (born 24 August 1977) is a far-right politician and activist in the United Kingdom. She founded and led the anti-Islam party For Britain until its dissolution in 2022. She is also the director of Sharia Watch UK, an o ...
, leader of the far-right For Britain
The For Britain Movement was a minor far-right political party in the United Kingdom, founded by the anti-Islam and "counter-jihad" activist Anne Marie Waters after she was defeated in the 2017 UK Independence Party leadership election.
H ...
party, promised Robinson the support of her party. Two people were hospitalised when Robinson campaigned as an MEP candidate in Warrington
Warrington () is an industrial town in the Borough of Warrington, borough of the same name in Cheshire, England. The town sits on the banks of the River Mersey and was Historic counties of England, historically part of Lancashire. It is east o ...
, Cheshire on 2 May. His security team and supporters physically attacked anti-racism activists, with one anti-racism
Anti-racism encompasses a range of ideas and political actions which are meant to counter racial prejudice, systemic racism, and the oppression of specific racial groups. Anti-racism is usually structured around conscious efforts and deliberate ...
activist saying she suffered a broken nose. Police launched an investigation into the violence. Robinson finished eighth in the election with 38,908 votes (2.2 per cent), widely described as "humiliating" in the media, and losing his deposit. He said he had faced a "near impossible task" in attempting to win a seat, as he was "unable to get across his message on social media platforms" after being banned by almost all such platforms. His reaction was to mock the idea of a People's Vote
People's Vote was a United Kingdom campaign group that unsuccessfully campaigned for a second referendum following the UK's Brexit vote to leave the European Union (EU) in 2016. The group was launched in April 2018 at which four Members of ...
by joking about having another election.
Prior to the 2019 United Kingdom general election
The 2019 United Kingdom general election was held on Thursday 12 December 2019, with 47,074,800 registered voters entitled to vote to elect 650 Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), Members of Parliament (MPs) to the House of Commons of the Un ...
, Robinson endorsed Conservative Party leader Boris Johnson
Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson (born 19 June 1964) is a British politician and writer who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party (UK), Leader of the Conservative Party from 2019 to 2022. He wa ...
as prime minister
A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
. Following the election he announced he had joined the party. However, this was denied by a Conservative MP and by the Conservative Party nationally. ''Scram:'', a website that campaigns against Robinson and other figures it sees as promoting far-right politics, has also debunked the claim.
Criminal offences
Robinson's criminal record includes convictions for violence, financial, and immigration frauds, cocaine
Cocaine is a tropane alkaloid and central nervous system stimulant, derived primarily from the leaves of two South American coca plants, ''Erythroxylum coca'' and ''Erythroxylum novogranatense, E. novogranatense'', which are cultivated a ...
possession with intent to supply, and public order offences. He had previously served at least three separate custodial sentences: in 2005 for assault, in 2012 for using false travel documents and in 2014 for mortgage fraud
Mortgage fraud refers to an intentional misstatement, misrepresentation, or omission of information relied upon by an underwriter or lender to fund, purchase, or insure a loan secured by real property.
Criminal offenses may be prosecuted in eith ...
.
Assault
In April 2005, at Luton Crown Court, Robinson was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (often abbreviated to Assault OABH, AOABH or simply ABH) is a statutory offence of aggravated assault in England and Wales, Northern Ireland, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Hong Kong and t ...
and assault with intent to resist arrest against an off-duty police constable in July 2004. The officer had intervened in an argument in the street between Robinson and his girlfriend at the time, Jenna Vowles. In the struggle that followed, Robinson kicked the officer in the head as he lay on the ground. Robinson received sentences of 12 months and 3 months, which were served concurrently.
In September 2011, at Preston Magistrates' Court, Robinson was convicted of assault for headbutting a man in Blackburn on 2 April 2011. In November 2011 he was given a 12-week jail term, suspended for 12 months.
Public order offence
In July 2011, at Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates' Court, Robinson was convicted of using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour, for leading a group of Luton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is a professional association football, football club from Luton, Bedfordshire, England. The club currently competes in EFL League One, the third level of the English football league system. Nicknamed "The Hatters", L ...
supporters into a brawl involving 100 people in Luton on 24 August 2010. He was sentenced to a 12-month community rehabilitation order, 150 hours of unpaid work and given a three-year football banning order.
Use of false passport
In October 2012 Robinson was arrested and held on the charge of having entered the United States illegally. He had used a passport in the name of Andrew McMaster to board a Virgin Atlantic
Virgin Atlantic, a trading name of Virgin Atlantic Airways Limited and Virgin Atlantic International Limited, is a British airline with its head office in Crawley, West Sussex, England. The airline was established in 1984 as British Atlantic A ...
flight from London Heathrow to New York City
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
. He had been banned from entering the US due to his criminal record. Upon arriving at John F. Kennedy International Airport
John F. Kennedy International Airport is a major international airport serving New York City and its metropolitan area. JFK Airport is located on the southwestern shore of Long Island, in Queens, New York City, bordering Jamaica Bay. It is ...
, US Customs and Border Protection
United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the largest Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security. It is the country's primary border guard, border ...
officials took his fingerprints, and discovered he was not McMaster. After being asked to attend a second interview, he left the airport, entering the US illegally in the process. He stayed one night and returned to the UK the following day using his own passport.
Robinson pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court
The Crown Court at Southwark, usually referred to as Southwark Crown Court, is a Crown Court venue at 1 English Grounds (off Battlebridge Lane) on the south bank of the River Thames between London Bridge and Tower Bridge in London. It operates ...
after using a passport that did not belong to him to travel to the United States in September 2012. He was subsequently sentenced in January 2013 to 10 months' imprisonment. Judge Alistair McCreath told him: "What you did went absolutely to the heart of the immigration controls that the United States are entitled to have. It's not in any sense trivial." He was released on an electronic tag on 22 February 2013.
Via his mother, an Irish immigrant to Britain, Robinson reportedly qualifies for an Irish passport
An Irish passport () is the passport issued to Irish nationality law, citizens of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. An Irish passport enables the bearer to travel internationally and serves as evidence of Irish nationality and citizenship of the Eu ...
as Stephen Yaxley-Lennon. In August 2024 three Irish Teachtai Dála asked the Irish government
The Government of Ireland () is the executive authority of Ireland, headed by the , the head of government. The government – also known as the cabinet – is composed of ministers, each of whom must be a member of the , which consists of ...
to investigate the validity of his Irish passport after it emerged he had given his place of birth as "Ireland".
Mortgage fraud
In November 2012 Robinson was charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by misrepresentation in relation to a mortgage application, along with five other defendants. He pleaded guilty to two charges and in January 2014 was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment.
Robinson's fraud amounted to £160,000 over a period of six months. Judge Andrew Bright described him as the "instigator, if not the architect" of a series of frauds totalling £640,000. "This was an operation which was fraudulent from the outset and involved a significant amount of forward planning." He described Robinson as a "fixer" who had introduced others to the fraudulent mortgage broker Deborah Rothschild. Rothschild had assisted some defendants by providing fake pay slips and income details.
Robinson was attacked by several fellow prisoners in HM Prison Woodhill. Following news of the attack, Maajid Nawaz
Maajid Usman Nawaz (; born 2 November 1977) is a British activist and former radio presenter. He was the founding chairman of the think tank Quilliam. Until January 2022, he was the host of an LBC radio show on Saturdays and Sundays. Born in ...
wrote to the Secretary of State for Justice
The secretary of state for justice is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Ministry of Justice. The incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom. Since the office's inception ...
, Chris Grayling
Christopher Stephen Grayling, Baron Grayling, (born 1 April 1962), is a British politician and author who served as Secretary of State for Justice from 2012 to 2015, Leader of the House of Commons from 2015 to 2016 and Secretary of State for T ...
, asking for Robinson's situation to be urgently addressed. Shortly after this incident, Robinson was moved to HM Prison Winchester. Robinson told Jamie Bartlett, a director of the think tank Demos
Demos may refer to:
Computing
* DEMOS, a Soviet Unix-like operating system
* DEMOS (ISP), the first internet service provider in the USSR
* Demos Commander, an Orthodox File Manager for Unix-like systems
* Plural for Demo (computer programming ...
: "In Woodhill, I experienced Islam the gang. ..In Winchester, I have experienced Islam the religion." Robinson made friends with several Muslim prisoners, referring to them as "great lads ..I cannot speak highly enough of the Muslim inmates I'm now living with". In June 2014 Robinson was released on licence. The terms of his early release included having no contact with the EDL until the end of his original sentence in June 2015. He was due to talk to the Oxford Union
The Oxford Union Society, commonly referred to as the Oxford Union, is a debating society in the city of Oxford, England, whose membership is drawn primarily from the University of Oxford. Founded in 1823, it is one of Britain's oldest unive ...
in October 2014, but was recalled to prison before the event for breaching the terms of his licence. He was ultimately released on 14 November 2014.
Stalking and harassment of journalists
2021 incident
Sometime after 10 pm on 17 January 2021, Robinson went to the home of the journalist Lizzie Dearden
Lizzie Dearden is an independent British journalist who worked at ''The Independent'' as Home Affairs and Security Correspondent between 2017 and 2021, and Home Affairs Editor until August 2023, writing on extremism, terrorism, crime, policing, ...
after she had asked for his comment for a story she was writing about allegations that he had misused financial donations from his supporters. He falsely accused her partner of being a paedophile
Pedophilia ( alternatively spelled paedophilia) is a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescent children. Although girls typically begin the process of pube ...
and threatened to return every night. He was arrested over the incident, and further published photographs of Dearden's partner on his Telegram
Telegraphy is the long-distance transmission of messages where the sender uses symbolic codes, known to the recipient, rather than a physical exchange of an object bearing the message. Thus flag semaphore is a method of telegraphy, whereas pi ...
channel, stating that "serious allegations" had been made about the partner. It was alleged he threatened the couple in an attempt to prevent the article from being published. Dearden's article was published on 18 March 2021. On 19 March Robinson was issued with an interim stalking ban order.
On 13 October 2021 Robinson was convicted at Westminster Magistrates' Court
Westminster Magistrates' Court is a Magistrates' court (England and Wales), magistrates' court at 181 Marylebone Road, London. The Chief Magistrate of England and Wales, who is the Senior Judiciary of England and Wales#District judges, Distric ...
of stalking the couple, and was given a five-year ban from contacting them or referring to them. On 19 October 2023 he lost his appeal against the stalking ban order, having admitted that the allegations he made about Dearden's partner were false.
2025 allegations
On 21 May 2025 Robinson was charged with harassment causing fear of violence against two ''Daily Mail
The ''Daily Mail'' is a British daily Middle-market newspaper, middle-market Tabloid journalism, tabloid conservative newspaper founded in 1896 and published in London. , it has the List of newspapers in the United Kingdom by circulation, h ...
'' journalists in August 2024. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 5 June 2025, when he elected for a trial by jury and was released on bail with a pre-trial hearing at Southwark Crown Court scheduled for 3 July 2025.
Dispersal order
On 27 November 2023 Robinson was charged under a Section 35 direction excluding a person from an area, after he refused to leave the area of the March Against Antisemitism in London the previous day, which he said he had attended as a journalist. He was handcuffed and led away, after being subjected to PAVA spray
PAVA spray is an tear gas, incapacitant spray similar to pepper spray. It is dispensed from a handheld canister, in a liquid stream. It contains a 0.3% solution of nonivamide, pelargonic acid vanillylamide (PAVA), also called nonivamide, a synthe ...
from a police officer. He was bailed to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court in January. After his release from custody, he claimed that the bail conditions preventing him from entering London or taking part in protests were a "blatant abuse" of human rights.
On 22 January 2024, at Westminster Magistrates' Court
Westminster Magistrates' Court is a Magistrates' court (England and Wales), magistrates' court at 181 Marylebone Road, London. The Chief Magistrate of England and Wales, who is the Senior Judiciary of England and Wales#District judges, Distric ...
, Robinson denied the Section 35 charge, claiming he attended the march as a journalist. The district judge District Judge may refer to:
* A United States federal judge, appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate
* A judge in a state court (United States), where the state is divided into judicial districts
*
* A judge in the district courts ...
set a trial for 22 April with Robinson's application to prevent the publication of his address was denied. The Metropolitan Police claimed Robinson "resisted as officers attempted to put him in handcuffs" and "was warned repeatedly before PAVA spray was used". On 23 April 2024 the case was dismissed as the dispersal order had never been valid, as the order, issued on 26 November at 10am, had been inadvertently dated 24 November by the issuing police officer.
Contempt of court in grooming gang cases
2017 conviction
On 10 May 2017 Robinson was charged with contempt of court, and convicted. He had filmed inside Canterbury Crown Court and posted prejudicial statements calling the defendants "Muslim child rapists" while the jury was deliberating. Judge Heather Norton said Robinson used "pejorative language in his broadcast which prejudged the outcome of the case and could have had the effect of substantially derailing the trial." She added, "this is not about free speech, not about the freedom of the press, nor about legitimate journalism, and not about political correctness
"Political correctness" (adjectivally "politically correct"; commonly abbreviated to P.C.) is a term used to describe language, policies, or measures that are intended to avoid offense or disadvantage to members of particular groups in society. ...
. It is about justice and ensuring that a trial can be carried out justly and fairly, it's about being innocent until proven guilty. It is about preserving the integrity of the jury to continue without people being intimidated or being affected by irresponsible and inaccurate 'reporting', if that's what it was."
The court later wrongly stated that Robinson had been sentenced to three months of imprisonment, suspended for 18 months and entered that incorrect result in the court records. In law, he had been committed to prison for a period of three months but suspended that committal for eighteen months. That technical error, the distinction between committed to prison and sentenced to imprisonment was identified and corrected by the Court of Appeal
An appellate court, commonly called a court of appeal(s), appeal court, court of second instance or second instance court, is any court of law that is empowered to Hearing (law), hear a Legal case, case upon appeal from a trial court or other ...
. The incorrect result was reported in the press.
The ramifications of this technical error came into effect in 2018 when the suspended prison sentence was activated. Robinson was again found to be in contempt of court at Leeds, again wrongly given a sentence of imprisonment and the Canterbury suspended sentence activated. Both sentences were for the offence of contempt of court, which can include speeches or publications that create a "substantial risk that the course of justice in the proceedings in question will be seriously impeded or prejudiced". He was later released following a successful challenge to the court's sentencing procedure. A rehearing was ordered.
2018 imprisonment
Robinson was jailed and later released in mid-2018 for almost collapsing the Huddersfield sex abuse ring trial.
On 25 May 2018 Robinson was arrested for a breach of the peace
Breach of the peace or disturbing the peace is a legal term used in constitutional law in English-speaking countries and in a public order sense in the United Kingdom. It is a form of disorderly conduct.
Public order England, Wales and Norther ...
while live streaming
Livestreaming, live-streaming, or live streaming is the streaming media, streaming of video or Digital audio, audio in real-time communication, real time or near real time. While often referred to simply as ''streaming'', the real-time nature ...
outside Leeds Crown Court
Leeds Combined Court Centre is a Crown Court venue, which deals with criminal cases, and a County Court venue, which deals with civil cases, in Oxford Row, Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. It is adjacent to Leeds Magistrates Courts.
History
Un ...
during the trial of the Huddersfield grooming gang on which reporting restrictions had been ordered by the judge. Following Robinson's arrest Judge Geoffrey Marson QC issued a further reporting restriction on Robinson's case, prohibiting any reporting of Robinson's case or the grooming trial until the latter case was complete.
The reporting restriction with regard to Robinson was lifted on 29 May 2018, following a challenge by journalists. The media reported that Robinson had admitted contempt of court by publishing information that could prejudice
Prejudice can be an affect (psychology), affective feeling towards a person based on their perceived In-group and out-group, social group membership. The word is often used to refer to a preconceived (usually unfavourable) evaluation or classifi ...
an ongoing trial, and had been jailed for 13 months. Judge Marson sentenced Robinson to ten months for contempt of court and his previous three months' suspended sentence was activated because of the breach. Robinson's lawyer said that Robinson felt "deep regret" after comprehending the potential consequences of his behaviour. Having breached a temporary ''section 4 (2) order'' under the Contempt of Court Act 1981
The Contempt of Court Act 1981 (c. 49) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It codifies some aspects of the common law offence of contempt of court
Contempt of court, often referred to simply as "contempt", is the crime of bei ...
, Robinson was told that if a retrial had to be held as a result of his actions the cost could be "hundreds and hundreds of thousands of pounds". Dominic Casciani, the BBC's home affairs correspondent, said, "This is not some new form of censorship directed at Robinson. These are rules that apply to us all, equally. If he is unsure about that, he's now got time on his hands to read a copy of ''Essential Law for Journalists''."
Response of supporters
The jailing of Robinson drew condemnation from right-wing circles. The UK Independence Party
The UK Independence Party (UKIP, ) is a Eurosceptic, right-wing populist political party in the United Kingdom. The party reached its greatest level of success in the mid-2010s, when it gained two members of parliament (both through defect ...
leader Gerard Batten
Gerard Joseph Batten (born 27 March 1954) is a British politician who served as the Leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) from 2018 to 2019. He was a founding member of the party in 1993, and served as a Member of the European Parliament ( ...
MEP expressed concern about the proceedings and the ban on reporting. Robinson attracted sympathy from several right-wing politicians in Europe, including the Dutch Party for Freedom
The Party for Freedom ( , PVV) is a right-wing populist, far-right political party in the Netherlands. Geert Wilders is the founder, party leader, and sole registered member of the party.
Founded in 2006 as the successor to Wilders' one-ma ...
leader Geert Wilders
Geert Wilders (born 6 September 1963) is a Dutch politician who has led the far-right Party for Freedom (PVV) since he founded it in 2006. He is also the party's leader in the House of Representatives. Wilders is best known for his right-wing p ...
and the member of the German Bundestag for the far-right Alternative for Germany
Alternative for Germany (, AfD, ) is a Far-right politics in Germany (1945–present), far-right,Far-right:
*
*
*
*
*
*
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*
*
*
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* Right-wing populism, right-wing populist and National conservatism, national-conservative p ...
(AfD) Petr Bystron.
On the weekends following Robinson's arrest, his supporters held rallies to show support. At a demonstration in London on 9 June, over 10,000 protesters blocked the roads around Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square ( ) is a public square in the City of Westminster in Central London. It was established in the early-19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. Its name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the Royal Navy, ...
and some attacked police, injuring five officers. Demonstrators prevented a Muslim woman from driving a bus, performed Nazi salute
The Nazi salute, also known as the Hitler salute, or the ''Sieg Heil'' salute, is a gesture that was used as a greeting in Nazi Germany. The salute is performed by extending the right arm from the shoulder into the air with a straightened han ...
s, threw scaffolding, glass bottles, and street furniture at police, and damaged vehicles and buildings.
An online petition for his release had more than 500,000 signatures. Hope not Hate
Hope not Hate (stylised as HOPE not hate) is an advocacy group based in the United Kingdom which campaigns against racism and fascism. It has also mounted campaigns against Islamic extremism and antisemitism. It is self-described as a "non-pa ...
, an anti-fascist advocacy group
Advocacy groups, also known as lobby groups, interest groups, special interest groups, pressure groups, or public associations, use various forms of advocacy or lobbying to influence public opinion and ultimately public policy. They play an impor ...
, said its analysis showed that 68.1 per cent of the signatures were from the UK, 9.7 per cent from Australia, 9.3 per cent from the US, and the rest from Canada, Germany, France, New Zealand, Netherlands, Sweden and Ireland combined.
In mid–June, Robinson was transferred from HM Prison Hull
HMP Hull is a Category B men's local prison located in Kingston upon Hull in England. The term 'local' means that this prison holds people on remand to the local courts. The prison is operated by His Majesty's Prison Service.
History
Hull Pr ...
to HM Prison Onley, the prison with the highest Muslim population (30.4 per cent) in the Midlands. Caolan Robertson, then Robinson's cameraman, spread false information substantially exaggerating the Muslim population of a prison to which Robinson was moved. Robertson told the American conspiracy theorist Alex Jones
Alexander Emerick Jones (born February 11, 1974) is an American Far-right politics, far-right radio host, radio show host and prominent conspiracy theorist. He hosts ''The Alex Jones Show'' from Austin, Texas. ''The Alex Jones Show'' is the lo ...
that Robinson's new prison was "about 71 per cent Muslim" and therefore "really, really, really disastrous". The former ''Breitbart
''Breitbart News Network'' (; known commonly as ''Breitbart News'', ''Breitbart'', or ''Breitbart.com'') is an Radical right (United States), American far-rightMultiple sources:
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*
*
*
*
*
*
* syndicated news, opinion, and commentar ...
'' editor Raheem Kassam
Raheem J. Kassam (born 1 August 1986) is a British political activist, former editor-in-chief of ''Breitbart News'' London, and former chief adviser to former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage. He has been described as far-right a ...
shared it to his followers on Twitter while falsely accusing the Home Secretary
The secretary of state for the Home Department, more commonly known as the home secretary, is a senior minister of the Crown in the Government of the United Kingdom and the head of the Home Office. The position is a Great Office of State, maki ...
, Sajid Javid
Sir Sajid Javid (; born 5 December 1969) is a British former politician who served as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care from June 2021 to July 2022, having previously served as Home Secretary from 2018 to 2019 and Chancellor of the ...
, of moving Robinson there. A Robinson supporter was subsequently jailed for posing threatening and abusive messages aimed at Javid, relating to Robinson.
In July 2018 Reuters
Reuters ( ) is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages. Reuters is one of the largest news agencies in the world.
The agency ...
reported that the , Sam Brownback
Samuel Dale Brownback (born September 12, 1956) is an American attorney, politician, and diplomat who served as a United States Senate, United States senator from Kansas from 1996 to 2011 and as the List of governors of Kansas, 46th governor of K ...
, lobbied the UK government on the treatment of Robinson. The Middle East Forum
The Middle East Forum (MEF) is an American conservative 501(c)(3) think tank founded in 1990 by Daniel Pipes, who now serves as its chairman. Gregg Roman serves as director of the forum. MEF became an independent non-profit organization in 19 ...
has also lobbied the United States government and provided financial aid for rallies and legal aid. The Middle East Forum donated US$50,000 to his legal defence fund.
Appeal hearing
Robinson lodged an appeal initially against the proceedings at Leeds but much later against convictions both at Canterbury
Canterbury (, ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in the county of Kent, England; it was a county borough until 1974. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Stour. The city has a mild oceanic climat ...
and Leeds
Leeds is a city in West Yorkshire, England. It is the largest settlement in Yorkshire and the administrative centre of the City of Leeds Metropolitan Borough, which is the second most populous district in the United Kingdom. It is built aro ...
. The Court of Appeal
An appellate court, commonly called a court of appeal(s), appeal court, court of second instance or second instance court, is any court of law that is empowered to Hearing (law), hear a Legal case, case upon appeal from a trial court or other ...
agreed to hear Robinson's appeal out of time because Robinson had been held in "effective solitary confinement
Solitary confinement (also shortened to solitary) is a form of imprisonment in which an incarcerated person lives in a single Prison cell, cell with little or no contact with other people. It is a punitive tool used within the prison system to ...
", which had made it difficult for him to have meetings with his lawyers. The matter came before the Lord Chief Justice
The Lord or Lady Chief Justice of England and Wales is the head of the judiciary of England and Wales and the president of the courts of England and Wales.
Until 2005 the lord chief justice was the second-most senior judge of the English a ...
and two others at the Court of Appeal on 18 July 2018. Robinson said that he had not admitted the charges at Leeds nor had he been given a chance to apologise. His lawyer said that his initial contempt hearing was flawed; the details of the charge were not clear. He argued that his sentence was unfair. The court issued its ruling on 1 August 2018. In essence, the appeal against the proceedings at Canterbury failed and the appeal in respect of the Leeds' proceedings succeeded.
The court analysed the differences that arise from a prison sentence for a criminal offence and those from committal to prison for contempt. Of the mistakes made at Canterbury, the Court of Appeal learnt that those representing Robinson had been aware of the procedural errors. "It lies ill in the mouth of an appellant to complain of the failure of the court below to follow the appropriate procedural steps when that failure was fully appreciated at the time and remained deliberately uncorrected for tactical reasons and collateral advantage." In respect of the Leeds contempt the court stated, "We are satisfied that the decision at Leeds Crown Court to proceed to committal to prison so promptly and without due regard for Part 48 of the Rules gave rise to unfairness. There was no clarity about what parts of the video were relied upon as amounting to contempt, what parts the appellant accepted through his counsel amounted to contempt and for what conduct he was sentenced."
It was ordered that the records of the Crown Court
The Crown Court is the criminal trial court, court of first instance in England and Wales responsible for hearing all indictable offences, some Hybrid offence, either way offences and appeals of the decisions of magistrates' courts. It is ...
at Canterbury and at Leeds were to be amended to show that Robinson had been ''committed to prison'' for contempt of court, not ''sentenced to imprisonment''. It was ordered the matter was to be reheard at the Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, commonly referred to as the Old Bailey after the street on which it stands, is a criminal court building in central London, one of several that house the Crown Court of England and Wales. The s ...
before the Recorder of London
The recorder of London is an ancient legal office in the City of London. The recorder of London is the senior circuit judge at the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey), hearing trials of criminal offences. The recorder is appointed by the Cr ...
"as soon as reasonably possible." Robinson was released on bail.
Aftermath of imprisonment
On 2 August 2018 Robinson was interviewed on ''Tucker Carlson Tonight
''Tucker Carlson Tonight'' is an American conservative talk show and current affairs program hosted by political commentator Tucker Carlson. The show aired on Fox News from November 14, 2016, to April 21, 2023, replacing '' On the Record'' ho ...
''. He mainly discussed his two months in prison. He said that he was initially put in HM Prison Hull, where he was treated well. He was then transferred to HM Prison Onley, where, he claimed, he was severely mistreated, including with 'solitary confinement'. HM Prison Service
His Majesty's Prison Service (HMPS) is a part of HM Prison and Probation Service (formerly the National Offender Management Service), which is the part of His Majesty's Government charged with managing most of the prisons within England and ...
rejected his claims, saying, "Mr Yaxley-Lennon .e. Robinsonwas treated with the same fairness we aim to show all prisoners – he had access to visits, television, and showers – and it is totally false to say he was held in 'solitary confinement, adding that he had been kept in a care and separation unit for 48 hours while an assessment was made of his safety.
Reporting restrictions were lifted on the three Huddersfield grooming gang trials after the jury reached a verdict in the final trial. The ''Yorkshire Evening Post
The ''Yorkshire Evening Post'' (''YEP'') is a regional daily newspaper covering the City of Leeds. Founded in 1890 it is published by Yorkshire Post Newspapers, National World.
Despite being having coverage and being sold across West Yorkshire ...
'' explained that it abided by the temporary restrictions because "If we had reported on the first trial then jurors may have been swayed in the second trial – a defence lawyer would argue that their clients could not get a fair hearing ... the whole trial could have collapsed ... a judge may have had to rule that they could not get a fair trial and those girls would NEVER have seen the men brought to justice".
Also in October 2018, the American Republican Party politician Paul Gosar
Paul Anthony Gosar ( ; born November 27, 1958) is an American politician and dentist who has represented in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2023 and represented from 2013 to 2023. A Republican, he was elected in 2010 to represent the ...
and six other members of the US Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...
invited Robinson to speak at a private meeting on 14 November 2018. The trip was to be sponsored by the Middle East Forum
The Middle East Forum (MEF) is an American conservative 501(c)(3) think tank founded in 1990 by Daniel Pipes, who now serves as its chairman. Gregg Roman serves as director of the forum. MEF became an independent non-profit organization in 19 ...
, which said it had provided Robinson with legal funds since his imprisonment. Robinson was not granted a visa for the trip.
New trial
Following court hearings on 27 September and 23 October, the case was referred to the Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general (: attorneys general) or attorney-general (AG or Atty.-Gen) is the main legal advisor to the government. In some jurisdictions, attorneys general also have executive responsibility for law enf ...
, Geoffrey Cox QC. Judge Nicholas Hilliard
Nicholas Hilliard ( – before 7 January 1619) was an English goldsmith and limner best known for his portrait miniatures of members of the courts of Elizabeth I and James I of England. He mostly painted small oval miniatures, but also some l ...
said the matter was so complex it needed further consideration, adding "all the evidence must be rigorously tested". The referral would allow witnesses to be cross-examined.
In March 2019 the attorney general decided that it was in the public interest to bring further proceedings against Robinson. A contempt conviction had been quashed by the Court of Appeal in August 2018 "over procedural failings" and Robinson had been freed on bail pending new proceedings at the Old Bailey. But Nicholas Hilliard, the Recorder of London
The recorder of London is an ancient legal office in the City of London. The recorder of London is the senior circuit judge at the Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey), hearing trials of criminal offences. The recorder is appointed by the Cr ...
had referred the case to the attorney general in October 2018 for further investigation. Cox acted on the referral and after further studies for five months, he decided to raise further proceedings against Robinson. He said about his action, "After carefully considering the details of this case, I have concluded there are strong grounds to bring fresh contempt of court proceedings against Stephen Yaxley-Lennon." He added, "As proceedings are now underway, it would not be appropriate to comment further and I remind everyone that it is an offence to comment on live court cases." The first hearing in this renewed case was due to take place at the High Court in London on 22 March 2019. Robinson reacted by alleging that this new procedure by the attorney general is part of "an ongoing state persecution of a journalist obinson who exposes the Kgovernment and establishment and all of their wrongs." Robinson could be sent to jail if he is found in contempt in this new trial. The preliminary hearing was later postponed "until sometime after 3 May".
On 5 July 2019 Robinson was again found guilty of contempt of court at the retrial on three different grounds, including breaching the reporting restriction.
Defence lawyers at the trial he was livestreaming from had applied for the jury to be discharged on the basis of having been prejudiced, within days of his video, which could have collapsed the trial, arguing:
It is inconceivable when you have 3.5 million hits on the internet that this information has not come to the attention of this jury. It is inconceivable that the jury have not been spoken to by others, whether they themselves were looking for the information matters or not.
Three days before his scheduled sentencing on 11 July, Robinson appeared on ''The Alex Jones Show
Alexander Emerick Jones (born February 11, 1974) is an American far-right radio show host and prominent conspiracy theorist. He hosts ''The Alex Jones Show'' from Austin, Texas. ''The Alex Jones Show'' is the longest-running online news and p ...
'' on the right-wing conspiracy channel '' InfoWars'' to appeal for political asylum in the United States, saying:
I feel like I'm two days away from being sentenced to death in the U.K. for journalism. Today, I am calling on the help of Donald Trump
Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
, his administration and the Republican Party to grant me and my family political asylum in the United States of America. ... I beg Donald Trump, I beg the American government, to look at my case. I need evacuation from this country because dark forces are at work. ... This is a direct appeal on behalf of my family – we love the United States, I have no future here n Britain The country has fallen.
US President Donald Trump's ambassador for international religious freedom, the former Senator Sam Brownback
Samuel Dale Brownback (born September 12, 1956) is an American attorney, politician, and diplomat who served as a United States Senate, United States senator from Kansas from 1996 to 2011 and as the List of governors of Kansas, 46th governor of K ...
raised the issue of Robinson's imprisonment with the British government in 2018, and Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. has in the past tweeted
A tweet (officially known as a post since 2023) is a short status update on the social networking site Twitter (officially known as X since 2023) which can include images, videos, GIFs, straw polls, hashtags, mentions, and hyperlinks. Around ...
in Robinson's support.
On 11 July 2019 Robinson was jailed for nine months at the Old Bailey. He described the sentence as an "absolute joke" and called for protests. Outside the court, some of his supporters booed and a crowd marched toward the building chanting "we want Tommy out"; some began pelting police with bottles and cans. Robinson had already served 69 days and would be required to serve about another ten weeks.
On 13 September 2019 Robinson was released from prison after serving nine weeks.[Busby, Matta (13 September 2019]
"Tommy Robinson released from jail after nine weeks"
''The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
'' Several days later, he said that he had spoken to Julian Assange
Julian Paul Assange ( ; Hawkins; born 3 July 1971) is an Australian editor, publisher, and activist who founded WikiLeaks in 2006. He came to international attention in 2010 after WikiLeaks published a series of News leak, leaks from Chels ...
in prison, and announced that he supported him.
Syrian refugee libel case
After a Syrian refugee boy was assaulted in a school bullying incident in October 2018, Robinson falsely accused the victim of having previously attacked two schoolgirls. The 15-year-old refugee was dragged to the floor by his neck and told by his attacker, "I'll drown you," while water was forced into his mouth. The boy's arm was in a cast after it had been broken in a separate assault. His sister had also been assaulted.
A 16-year-old boy, believed to be the attacker, who was interviewed by police and given a court summons, had shared numerous social media posts by Robinson. On Facebook
Facebook is a social media and social networking service owned by the American technology conglomerate Meta Platforms, Meta. Created in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg with four other Harvard College students and roommates, Eduardo Saverin, Andre ...
, Robinson subsequently posted a screenshot of a message from a mother saying her daughter had been bullied and he accused the refugee of being the bully. However, the mother responded on Robinson's Facebook page informing him this was false. Robinson also made a false allegation using a photo stolen from a news article on a teenage cancer patient.
These events forced the refugee's family to relocate because "the level of abuse the children have received has become too much". The family decided to move elsewhere in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a Metropolitan counties of England, metropolitan and Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It borders North Yorkshire to the north and east, South Yorkshire and De ...
. Robinson may have breached court orders preventing the naming of the alleged perpetrator in several videos on Facebook and Instagram
Instagram is an American photo sharing, photo and Short-form content, short-form video sharing social networking service owned by Meta Platforms. It allows users to upload media that can be edited with Social media camera filter, filters, be ...
, including one that was viewed more than 150,000 times. A lawyer said in doing so Robinson had "compounded" the refugee's suffering, adding "many people on social media having viewed Mr Yaxley-Lennon's obinson'slies believed them and expressed their outrage toward he refugee
He or HE may refer to:
Language
* He (letter), the fifth letter of the Semitic abjads
* He (pronoun), a pronoun in Modern English
* He (kana), one of the Japanese kana (へ in hiragana and ヘ in katakana)
* Ge (Cyrillic), a Cyrillic letter call ...
"
In January 2019 the refugee said returning to Almondbury Community School was still too dangerous. He described living in fear after Robinson's postings because "there are people who hang around outside my house and video me on their phones. They call me 'little rat' if I go outside. One of my neighbours threatened me outside my house just yesterday."[ His lawyers said Robinson's postings had made him "the focus of countless messages of hate and threats from the extreme right wing" and had led to a police safety warning.]
After receiving a letter from lawyers representing the refugee boy's family, pointing out that the videos Robinson had posted "contain a number of false and defamatory allegations", Robinson admitted to his followers that it was fake news and said that he had been duped: "I have been completely had, how embarrassing man." Robinson deleted the videos and admitted to posting a fake photograph purporting to show violence by a Muslim gang. He was warned about legal action for defamation. In response to allegations from Robinson's supporters that this warning "blocked" free speech, the boy's lawyer said "Tommy Robinson thinks it is a good idea to defame this 15-year-old boy and accuse him of being the author of his own bullying. It is actually sickening." On 15 May 2019, the boy's lawyer said that his client was suing Robinson for "defamatory comments" Robinson had made.
It was reported that Facebook protected prominent figures such as Robinson from the normal rules of moderation that would usually see a page removed after posting content that violates its rules. Solicitors representing the victim are pursuing legal action
In legal terminology, a complaint is any formal legal document that sets out the facts and legal reasons (see: cause of action) that the filing party or parties (the plaintiff(s)) believes are sufficient to support a claim against the part ...
against the social media firm on the basis Facebook was responsible for Robinson's posts as it had given him "special treatment hat
A hat is a Headgear, head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorpor ...
seems to be financially driven". However, on 26 February 2019, Facebook announced that it had banned Robinson from the service for violating its community standards and "posting material that uses dehumanizing language and calls for violence targeted at Muslims". It also cited violations of policies concerning "organized hate".
On 22 July 2021 Robinson was found to have libelled the boy and was ordered to pay £100,000 plus legal costs, which were understood to amount to a further £500,000. An injunction was also granted to stop Robinson from repeating the libel. Robinson, who represented himself during the four-day trial, said he was "gobsmacked" by the costs the victim's lawyers were claiming, which he said included £70,000 for taking witness statements. He added: "I've not got any money. I'm bankrupt. I've struggled hugely with my own issues these last 12 months ... I ain't got it." In January 2022 an independent insolvency expert was appointed by Robinson's creditors (who include the schoolboy and the boy's lawyers – owed an estimated £1.5 million in legal costs) to find any assets or money that Robinson could be hiding.
''Silenced''
Robinson produced a film, ''Silenced'', about the Almondbury Community School bullying incident. It was financed by '' InfoWars'', the website owned by Alex Jones
Alexander Emerick Jones (born February 11, 1974) is an American Far-right politics, far-right radio host, radio show host and prominent conspiracy theorist. He hosts ''The Alex Jones Show'' from Austin, Texas. ''The Alex Jones Show'' is the lo ...
and known for publishing conspiracy theories and fake news
Fake news or information disorder is false or misleading information (misinformation, disinformation, propaganda, and hoaxes) claiming the aesthetics and legitimacy of news. Fake news often has the aim of damaging the reputation of a person ...
, which filed for bankruptcy in 2024; a trailer for the first cut of the film was released on ''InfoWars'' in 2021. By 2023, Robinson had started working with MICE Media (a now-defunct media channel founded by Bryn Davis, an American technology entrepreneur, conspiracy theorist, and supporter of Donald Trump) to finalise a new version of ''Silenced''. The MICE Media version of ''Silenced'' was launched on 1 April 2023 in Copenhagen, at an event hosted by the Danish People's Party
The Danish People's Party (DPP; , DF) is a nationalist and right-wing populist political party in Denmark. It was formed in 1995 by former members of the Progress Party (FrP).
The party saw a period of significant growth after its founding a ...
and the Danish Free Press Society, organisations associated with racism and anti-Muslim hatred. Robinson was welcomed to the event by DPP leader Morten Messerschmidt, who has suggested Europe is on the brink of a racial civil war triggered by Muslim immigration.
In the film Robinson repeats his defamatory claims about the boy. He depicts the incident and the resulting fallout as a "story about how the law is being manipulated and exploited by the far left and Islamists to destroy the lives of anyone who speaks out against the so-called progressive, so-called liberal narrative." Sam Doak of Logically Facts
Logically is a British multinational technology startup company that specializes in analyzing and fighting disinformation. Logically was founded in 2017 by Lyric Jain and is based in Brighouse, England, with offices in London, Mysore, Bangalore, ...
wrote that the film's release "invites potential legal jeopardy".
On 1 January 2025 the owner of Twitter, Elon Musk
Elon Reeve Musk ( ; born June 28, 1971) is a businessman. He is known for his leadership of Tesla, SpaceX, X (formerly Twitter), and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk has been considered the wealthiest person in th ...
, retweeted the full film, saying it was "Worth watching". The following day he tweeted "Free Tommy Robinson!" and in another post he wrote: "Why is Tommy Robinson in a solitary confinement prison for telling the truth?" On 7 January 2025 Robinson released a podcast
A podcast is a Radio program, program made available in digital format for download over the Internet. Typically, a podcast is an Episode, episodic series of digital audio Computer file, files that users can download to a personal device or str ...
praising Musk and claiming Musk was protecting freedom of speech. HM Prison Service began investigating how Robinson recorded and released a podcast from his prison cell.
2024 arrest and imprisonment
On 28 July 2024 Robinson was arrested by Kent Police
Kent Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing the and approximately 1.8 million inhabitants of Kent, a county in South East England.
History
On 14 January 1857, a 222-strong 'Kent County Constabulary' was formed under C ...
at the Channel Tunnel
The Channel Tunnel (), sometimes referred to by the Portmanteau, portmanteau Chunnel, is a undersea railway tunnel, opened in 1994, that connects Folkestone (Kent, England) with Coquelles (Pas-de-Calais, France) beneath the English Channel at ...
in Folkestone
Folkestone ( ) is a coastal town on the English Channel, in Kent, south-east England. The town lies on the southern edge of the North Downs at a valley between two cliffs. It was an important harbour, shipping port, and fashionable coastal res ...
under the Terrorism Act 2000
The Terrorism Act 2000 (c. 11) is the first of a number of general Terrorism Acts passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It superseded and repealed the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 and the Northern Ireland (E ...
, "for frustration of a schedule 7 examination" immediately after his 'Unite the Kingdom' protest at Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square ( ) is a public square in the City of Westminster in Central London. It was established in the early-19th century around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. Its name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the Royal Navy, ...
. He was released on bail. At the Trafalgar Square protest, he allegedly screened his film ''Silenced'', despite a High Court order. He had been scheduled to attend a High Court contempt of court hearing on 29 July for making the film. An arrest warrant was issued after he left the country, to be enacted in October should he fail to appear at a follow-up hearing.
Ahead of that hearing on 28 October 2024 at Woolwich Crown Court, Robinson was held in custody after handing himself in to Folkestone police station on 25 October. At the hearing, Robinson admitted contempt of court by repeating false allegations about the Syrian refugee. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison and issued with a costs order for £80,350.82; the judge later ordered Robinson to pay £50,000 by 4pm on 7 January 2025. Robinson was described by his barrister
A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdiction (area), jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include arguing cases in courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, jurisprud ...
as "a journalist". Judge Jeremy Johnson said that Robinson had shown no remorse and there was no realistic prospect of rehabilitation, adding: "All of his actions so far suggest that he regards himself as above the law."
Robinson was initially held at HM Prison Belmarsh
His Majesty's Prison Belmarsh is a Category A men's prison located in Thamesmead, south-east London, England. Belmarsh Prison is run by His Majesty's Prison Service and is situated next to HMP Isis and HMP Thameside. The prison is used for ...
. He was relocated after the jail received numerous abusive and racist emails, including threats directed at the governor, who is a black woman. On 1 November 2024, Robinson entered a closed wing at HM Prison Woodhill to protect him from attacks by other prisoners.
On 13 November 2024 Robinson appeared in court after failing to provide his mobile phone PIN
A pin is a device, typically pointed, used for fastening objects or fabrics together. Pins can have the following sorts of body:
*a shaft of a rigid inflexible material meant to be inserted in a slot, groove, or hole (as with pivots, hinges, an ...
when requested by police in Folkestone on 28 July 2024. A trial, initially expected in March 2025,[ is scheduled for October 2026.][
]
Challenging prison segregation
In March 2025 Robinson challenged the Ministry of Justice
A justice ministry, ministry of justice, or department of justice, is a ministry or other government agency in charge of the administration of justice. The ministry or department is often headed by a minister of justice (minister for justice in a ...
's decision to segregate him from other prisoners at HM Prison Woodhill. Robinson told the High Court that he was "terrified of the long-term consequences of the continued solitary confinement".
The Ministry said Robinson had been segregated after it received multiple intelligence reports indicating that two other prisoners were plotting to assault Robinson. The Ministry feared that Robinson would "be killed by a lifer" if he remained on a wing. The Ministry also said Robinson's isolation was "substantially more permissive" than ordinary segregation arrangements: Robinson had access to a laptop and email, use of a gym facilities for three hours a day, and the ability to make social phone call for four hours each day. It also revealed that, since November 2024, Robinson had made more than 1,250 social telephone calls, had sent 100s of emails, and had had more than 90 visits approved, more than any other inmate.
On 21 March 2025 Mr Justice Chamberlain dismissed Robinson's claim, stating that Robinson's own barrister had acknowledged that there was no evidence he had been segregated "for the purpose of breaking his resistance or humiliating or debasing him". Mr Justice Chamberlain found that the decision had been taken "for obinson'sown protection and in the interests of preserving the safety of other prisoners and staff".
Appeal against contempt of court sentence
In April 2025, Robinson lost an appeal against his 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court. The Court of Appeal dismissed arguments about the impact of his prison segregation on his mental health, ruling there was "no reasonable basis" to reduce the sentence. He was expected to be released on licence in July 2025. However, in May 2025, the High Court reduced his sentence by four months on the basis that he had given an assurance that he would comply with the injunction in future. As a result, he was released from HM Prison Woodhill in Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes ( ) is a city status in the United Kingdom, city in Buckinghamshire, England, about north-west of London. At the 2021 Census, the population of Milton Keynes urban area, its urban area was 264,349. The River Great Ouse forms t ...
on 27 May 2025.
Social media bans and reinstatement on X
In March 2018 Robinson was permanently banned from Twitter
Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...
for violating its rules on "hateful conduct". In January 2019 YouTube
YouTube is an American social media and online video sharing platform owned by Google. YouTube was founded on February 14, 2005, by Steve Chen, Chad Hurley, and Jawed Karim who were three former employees of PayPal. Headquartered in ...
announced that it had removed adverts from Robinson's account, saying that he had breached the site's guidelines.
In February 2019 Facebook and Instagram banned him from their platforms, citing violations of their hate-speech rules, including "calls for violence targeted at Muslims". Facebook subsequently placed him on its list of "Dangerous Individuals".
In April 2019 YouTube restricted Robinson's account due to its "borderline content", placing its content "behind an interstitial arning page removed from recommendations, and stripped of key features including livestreaming, comments, suggested videos, and likes". In the same month, Snapchat
Snapchat is an American multimedia social media and instant messaging app and service developed by Snap Inc., originally Snapchat Inc. One of the principal features of the app are that pictures and messages, known as "snaps", are usually availa ...
terminated Robinson's account for violating their community guidelines, which prohibit hate speech and harassment.
In April 2020 Robinson was banned from TikTok
TikTok, known in mainland China and Hong Kong as Douyin (), is a social media and Short-form content, short-form online video platform owned by Chinese Internet company ByteDance. It hosts user-submitted videos, which may range in duration f ...
for sharing content that "promote hateful ideology". Robinson had shared a clip of himself holding the Quran
The Quran, also Romanization, romanized Qur'an or Koran, is the central religious text of Islam, believed by Muslims to be a Waḥy, revelation directly from God in Islam, God (''Allah, Allāh''). It is organized in 114 chapters (, ) which ...
and saying, "This book is the reason we are in such a mess." Following the ban, Robinson joined VK, a Russian social media platform.
On 5 November 2023 Robinson's Twitter account was reinstated following the acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk
Businessman and U.S. political figure Elon Musk initiated an Mergers and acquisitions, acquisition of the American social media company Twitter, Inc. on April 14, 2022, and concluded it on October 27, 2022. Musk had begun buying shares of the ...
in November 2022.
On 13 August 2024, the 30-year anniversary of the murder of Richard Everitt
Richard Norman Everitt (6 December 1978 – 13 August 1994) was a white 15-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in London, England. Everitt lived in the neighbourhood of Somers Town, which had been the site of ethnic tensions. He was murdere ...
, Robinson stated on X that three defendants charged with the crime, Miah, Akbar and Hai, had been 'convicted' of the killing. Hai had in fact been acquitted. He wrote to Robinson stating this, and reported the post. On 16 August the tweet disappeared, but Robinson then made another post, copying the original screen, which he explained he had deleted to avoid having his X account suspended while he appealed the matter. Hai's lawyers Mishcon de Reya reported the second post, and then sent a letter before claim to X on 28 August. The post was removed on 6 September, within the deadline set by the lawyers. Hai, however, argues that X had not done enough to uphold its own policies, and the solicitors said the Online Safety Act 2023
The Online Safety Act 2023 (c. 50) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom to regulate online content. Designed to protect children and adults online, it passed on 26 October 2023 and gives the relevant Secretary of State the power, s ...
had the potential to reduce such harmful online content.
On 2 January 2025 the owner of X, Musk, pinned the message "Free Tommy Robinson" to the top of his own X-feed.
Financial support
Robinson has received over £2 million in donations and sponsorship.
In 2017 the American billionaire businessman Robert J. Shillman funded Robinson's fellowship at the right-wing Canadian website ''Rebel News
''Rebel News'' (also known as ''The Rebel Media'' and ''The Rebel'') is a Canadian far-right political and social commentary media website operated by Rebel News Network Ltd. It has been described as a "global platform" for the Islamophobia, a ...
'', with Robinson receiving over US$6,000 (£5,000) per month. Steve Bannon
Stephen Kevin Bannon (born November 27, 1953) is an American media executive, political strategist, and former investment banker. He served as the White House's chief strategist for the first seven months of president Donald Trump's first ...
and Sam Brownback
Samuel Dale Brownback (born September 12, 1956) is an American attorney, politician, and diplomat who served as a United States Senate, United States senator from Kansas from 1996 to 2011 and as the List of governors of Kansas, 46th governor of K ...
, a US State Department
The United States Department of State (DOS), or simply the State Department, is an executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for the country's foreign policy and relations. Equivalent to the ministry of foreign affairs o ...
official, also voiced US support for Robinson,[ as did ]Raheem Kassam
Raheem J. Kassam (born 1 August 1986) is a British political activist, former editor-in-chief of ''Breitbart News'' London, and former chief adviser to former UK Independence Party (UKIP) leader Nigel Farage. He has been described as far-right a ...
(a one-time Farage advisor and London editor of ''Breitbart News
''Breitbart News Network'' (; known commonly as ''Breitbart News'', ''Breitbart'', or ''Breitbart.com'') is an Radical right (United States), American far-rightMultiple sources:
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
* syndicated news, opinion, and commentar ...
'') who helped to raise money for Robinson in the US.[
In 2018 Robinson received £2 million in donations that were sought by opponents of his imprisonment.] That same year, the American/Israeli Middle East Forum
The Middle East Forum (MEF) is an American conservative 501(c)(3) think tank founded in 1990 by Daniel Pipes, who now serves as its chairman. Gregg Roman serves as director of the forum. MEF became an independent non-profit organization in 19 ...
think tank (led by Daniel Pipes
Daniel Pipes (born September 9, 1949) is an American former professor and commentator on foreign policy and the Middle East. He is the president of the Middle East Forum, and publisher of its ''Middle East Quarterly'' journal. His writing focus ...
and described as "fomenting anti-Muslim sentiment"; Kassam was a fellow of the MEF[) said it had been funding rallies in Robinson's support and paying legal costs in his appeal against his prison sentence.] The MEF spent $60,000 (£47,000) on Robinson's legal fees and on London demonstrations staged in 2018,[ and flew Republican Congressman ]Paul Gosar
Paul Anthony Gosar ( ; born November 27, 1958) is an American politician and dentist who has represented in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2023 and represented from 2013 to 2023. A Republican, he was elected in 2010 to represent the ...
to London to speak at one of the rallies.[
Robinson also received funding from the right-wing Yellow Vest Australia group.] For several months in late 2018, he used Facebook's donations feature that was intended for charities to instead collect money for a new conspiracy theory website and to fund legal action against the British government for his own prison treatment. Hours later, Facebook removed the button from Robinson's page. In November 2018 PayPal
PayPal Holdings, Inc. is an American multinational financial technology company operating an online payments system in the majority of countries that support E-commerce payment system, online money transfers; it serves as an electronic alter ...
told Robinson that it would no longer process payments on his behalf, which he described as "fascism". The service said it cannot "be used to promote hate, violence, or other forms of intolerance that is 'sic''">sic.html" ;"title="'sic">'sic''discriminatory".
Robinson has also received support from some far-right pro-Israel organisations, and has been criticised by Jewish civil rights organisation the Anti-Defamation League.
Bankruptcy
Before incurring an estimated £1.6 million in costs following the libel trial, Robinson filed for bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal process through which people or other entities who cannot repay debts to creditors may seek relief from some or all of their debts. In most jurisdictions, bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the deb ...
in March 2021, using the name Stephen Christopher Lennon. The official receiver was searching for concealed assets, including any which had been put into other people's names. Former employees have raised questions as to what happened to money raised to support him. He denies misusing funds. In January 2022, people owed money by Robinson (including the libelled schoolboy, the boy's lawyers, HM Revenue and Customs
His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (commonly HM Revenue and Customs, or HMRC, and formerly Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) is a department of the UK government responsible for the collection of taxes, the payment of some forms of stat ...
, a former business partner and the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness
Barrow-in-Furness was a local government district with borough status in Cumbria, England. It was named after its main town, Barrow-in-Furness. Other settlements included Dalton-in-Furness and Askam-in-Furness. It was the smallest district i ...
) appointed an independent insolvency
In accounting, insolvency is the state of being unable to pay the debts, by a person or company ( debtor), at maturity; those in a state of insolvency are said to be ''insolvent''. There are two forms: cash-flow insolvency and balance-sheet i ...
expert in an attempt to recover their money before the deadline for claims in March 2022.
In June 2022, at the High Court in London, Robinson said that he spent £100,000 in gambling, stating he had suffered a "total mental breakdown", before declaring bankruptcy. He also said he owed an estimated £160,000 to HMRC. On 1 August 2022 Robinson was fined £900 for failing to appear at the High Court to answer questions over his finances; he was also ordered to pay £20,000 in costs.
It is understood that Robinson owes in the region of £2,000,000 to his creditors.[
]
Tax investigation
In August 2024 ''The Times
''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
'' reported Robinson and associates had created "a web of secretive companies" which made profits of over £1.6 million without paying tax. Over six years, directors of these entities failed to file any annual accounts, with one of the companies (Hope and Pride Ltd) owing £328,000 in corporation tax and employer contributions to HMRC. Robinson was the subject of an HMRC tax investigation and was reported to have discussed becoming "non-resident" for tax purposes. In the late 2010s Robinson registered five companies under two different names (Paul Harris and Stephen Lennon), potentially breaking the law.
References
{{Reflist, refs=
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson Explains The Making Of An Alter-Ego Even His Wife Can't Stand , last=Hopkins , first=Steven , work=Huffington Post UK , date=10 December 2015 , url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/12/10/stephen-yaxley-lennon-describes-the-making-of-tommy-robinson_n_8747794.html , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151211044804/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/12/10/stephen-yaxley-lennon-describes-the-making-of-tommy-robinson_n_8747794.html , archive-date=11 December 2015 , quote=After high school Robinson got an apprenticeship to study aircraft engineering at Luton Airport, but shortly after qualifying he was jailed for a year for assaulting an off-duty policeman... The officer had come to the rescue of Robinson's then girlfriend... The couple were "drunk arguing" at 3am. The cop wanted to walk Robinson's girlfriend home. Robinson: 'I was being heated, and arguing, but I've never, ever, ever, ever, ever assaulted my missus and my wife. So I'm like, "fuck off man, what-you-talking-about".' At that point Robinson said the officer 'rugby tackled him' to the floor. 'I'm a young 23, 21-year-old lad and I'm pissed up, like to fight, and we're fighting, so I started fighting him, and when he's gone down to the floor.' Speaking in a low-voice now: 'I've kicked him in the head.']
[{{cite news , title=Who is Tommy Robinson? The former EDL leader and right-wing figurehead , work=The Scotsman , date=15 November 2018 , url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/who-is-tommy-robinson-the-former-edl-leader-and-right-wing-figurehead-1-4830451 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181115143111/https://www.scotsman.com/news/uk/who-is-tommy-robinson-the-former-edl-leader-and-right-wing-figurehead-1-4830451 , archive-date=15 November 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Met police fear violent clashes over march by far-right 'Brexit Betrayal' militants , work=The Telegraph , date=8 December 2018 , last=Sawer , first=Patrick , url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/08/met-police-fear-violent-clashes-march-far-right-brexit-betrayal/ , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181208113920/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/12/08/met-police-fear-violent-clashes-march-far-right-brexit-betrayal/ , archive-date=8 December 2018 , quote=Robinson, a former member of the extremist British National Party, is a convicted fraudster and football hooligan who was also jailed for 12 months for assaulting an off-duty police officer in 2005.]
[{{cite web , last=Chikls , first=Simon , title=Far-Right Provocateurs Don't Deserve the Redemption They're Being Offered , date=22 January 2019 , website=Vice , url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/far-right-provocateurs-dont-deserve-the-redemption-theyre-being-offered/ , access-date=7 December 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207050325/https://www.vice.com/en_uk/article/qvy4k3/far-right-provocateurs-dont-deserve-the-redemption-theyre-being-offered , archive-date=7 December 2019]
[{{cite news , title=EDL founder Stephen Lennon guilty over football brawl , publisher=BBC , work=BBC News , date=25 July 2011 , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-14278957 , access-date=3 September 2011 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725170948/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-14278957 , archive-date=25 July 2011]
[{{cite web , title=English Defence League founder convicted of leading street brawl , date=25 July 2011 , website=Theguardian.com , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jul/25/english-defence-league-founder-brawl , access-date=14 February 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214115641/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jul/25/english-defence-league-founder-brawl , archive-date=14 February 2019
*{{cite news , title=English Defence League thug convicted for Newport County fight , work=WalesOnline , date=25 July 2011 , url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/english-defence-league-thug-convicted-1823358 , access-date=12 May 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512133126/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/english-defence-league-thug-convicted-1823358 , archive-date=12 May 2019]
[{{cite news , work=BBC News , title=EDL leader Stephen Lennon convicted of assault , date=29 September 2011 , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-15117961 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002134210/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-15117961 , archive-date=2 October 2011]
[{{cite news , work=The Guardian , title=EDL leader sentenced for headbutting fellow protester , date=3 November 2011 , location=London, UK , last=Carter , first=Helen , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/nov/03/edl-leader-sentenced-headbutt , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705022443/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/nov/03/edl-leader-sentenced-headbutt , archive-date=5 July 2017]
[*{{cite news , title=EDL leader facing jail after assault in Blackburn , newspaper=]Lancashire Telegraph
The ''Lancashire Telegraph'', formerly the ''Lancashire Evening Telegraph'', is a local tabloid newspaper distributed in East Lancashire, England. It is edited by Richard Duggan. The ''Lancashire Telegraph'' prints Monday to Saturday. There a ...
, url=https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/9279888.edl-leader-facing-jail-after-assault-in-blackburn/ , access-date=13 February 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214002538/https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/9279888.edl-leader-facing-jail-after-assault-in-blackburn/ , archive-date=14 February 2019
[*{{cite news , title=EDL leader convicted of assault , date=29 September 2011 , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-15117961 , access-date=20 July 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111002134210/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-15117961 , archive-date=2 October 2011
*{{cite news , title=EDL leader Stephen Lennon Asbo bid rejected , date=3 November 2011 , newspaper=]The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
, url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/edl-leader-stephen-lennon-asbo-bid-rejected-6256699.html , access-date=14 February 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214174312/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/edl-leader-stephen-lennon-asbo-bid-rejected-6256699.html , archive-date=14 February 2019
[{{cite news , title=Why Tommy Robinson could find himself in jail again , date=1 August 2018 , newspaper=]The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
, url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-prison-jailed-why-contempt-court-grooming-gangs-muslim-protest-a8472566.html , access-date=13 February 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214002714/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-prison-jailed-why-contempt-court-grooming-gangs-muslim-protest-a8472566.html , archive-date=14 February 2019
[{{cite news , title=EDL leader Stephen Lennon jailed for false passport offence , date=7 January 2013 , work=BBC News , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20935502 , access-date=17 July 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170409025554/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20935502 , archive-date=9 April 2017
*{{cite news , title=EDL leader jailed for being illegal immigrant after entering US on friend's passport , work=Daily Telegraph , last=Simmonds , first=Julian , date=7 January 2013 , url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9785724/EDL-leader-jailed-for-being-illegal-immigrant-after-entering-US-on-friends-passport.html , url-access=subscription , access-date=11 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9785724/EDL-leader-jailed-for-being-illegal-immigrant-after-entering-US-on-friends-passport.html , archive-date=12 January 2022{{cbignore]
[{{cite news , title=EDL leader Lennon jailed for passport offence , date=7 January 2013 , work=Sky News , url=https://news.sky.com/story/1034468/edl-leader-lennon-jailed-for-passport-offence , access-date=20 October 2013 , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130313170714/http://news.sky.com/story/1034468/edl-leader-lennon-jailed-for-passport-offence , archive-date=13 March 2013]
[{{cite news , title=EDL founder Stephen Yaxley-Lennon admits mortgage fraud , work=BBC News , date=26 November 2013 , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25110639 , access-date=25 January 2014 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205015226/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25110639 , archive-date=5 February 2014]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson, former EDL leader, jailed for fraud , work=BBC News , date=23 January 2014 , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25862838 , access-date=26 October 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123173415/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25862838 , archive-date=23 January 2014]
[{{cite news , title=EDL's Tommy Robinson Admits Real Name Is Stephen Yaxley, Was In BNP To Andrew Neil On Sunday Politics , last=Elgot , first=Jessica , date=16 June 2013 , work=The Huffington Post (UK) , url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/06/16/tommy-robinson-bnp-edl-andrew-neil_n_3449252.html , access-date=20 October 2013 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020210751/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/06/16/tommy-robinson-bnp-edl-andrew-neil_n_3449252.html , archive-date=20 October 2013]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson; The Three Boys. Drunk Driving or a police cover up? , date=28 May 2018 , last=Kelly , first=Jane , work=Salisbury Review , url=http://www.salisburyreview.com/articles/tommy-robinson-the-three-boys-drunk-driving-or-a-police-cover-up/ , access-date=1 December 2018 , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304091112/http://www.salisburyreview.com/articles/tommy-robinson-the-three-boys-drunk-driving-or-a-police-cover-up/ , archive-date=4 March 2019]
[*{{cite web , title=UK far-right figure Tommy Robinson jailed for contempt , work=]Business Insider
''Business Insider'' (stylized in all caps: BUSINESS INSIDER; known from 2021 to 2023 as INSIDER) is a New York City–based multinational financial and business news website founded in 2007. Since 2015, a majority stake in ''Business Inside ...
, date=29 May 2018 , url=https://www.businessinsider.com/ap-uk-far-right-figure-tommy-robinson-jailed-for-contempt-2018-5/?IR=T , access-date=15 June 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://archive.today/20180615070645/http://uk.businessinsider.com/ap-uk-far-right-figure-tommy-robinson-jailed-for-contempt-2018-5/?IR=T , archive-date=15 June 2018
*{{cite web , title=Facebook erases far-right activist's page, Instagram profile , work=Chicago Tribune
The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...
, date=26 February 2019 , url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-bc-eu--britain-far-right-20190226-story.html , access-date=8 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308144733/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-bc-eu--britain-far-right-20190226-story.html , archive-date=8 March 2019
*{{cite web , title=Morrissey defends Tommy Robinson and new far-right party , work=The Week
''The Week'' is a weekly news magazine with editions in the United Kingdom and United States. The British publication was founded in 1995 and the American edition in 2001. An Australian edition was published from 2008 to 2012. A children's edi ...
, date=7 June 2018 , url=http://www.theweek.co.uk/94132/morrissey-defends-tommy-robinson-and-new-far-right-party , access-date=15 June 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://archive.today/20180615071038/http://www.theweek.co.uk/94132/morrissey-defends-tommy-robinson-and-new-far-right-party , archive-date=15 June 2018
*{{cite web , title=Far-right provocateur Tommy Robinson jailed over court rant , last=Hamilton , first=Fiona , work=The Times
''The Times'' is a British Newspaper#Daily, daily Newspaper#National, national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its modern name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its si ...
, date=30 May 2018 , url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/crime/article/far-right-provocateur-tommy-robinson-jailed-over-court-rant-9kgwggssz , access-date=15 June 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://archive.today/20180615071936/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/far-right-provocateur-tommy-robinson-jailed-over-court-rant-9kgwggssz , archive-date=15 June 2018
*{{cite news , title=Why Tommy Robinson Was Jailed, and Why U.S. Rightwingers Care , magazine=Time
Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible process, irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequ ...
, date=29 May 2018 , last=Morrin , first=Siobhan , url=https://time.com/5294192/tommy-robinson-jailed-trial-roseanne-barr/ , access-date=15 June 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615072647/http://time.com/5294192/tommy-robinson-jailed-trial-roseanne-barr/ , archive-date=15 June 2018
*{{cite web , title=Why Was Tommy Robinson Arrested? Far-Right Activist Jailed For 13 Months For 'Prejudicing Rape Trial' , work=Newsweek
''Newsweek'' is an American weekly news magazine based in New York City. Founded as a weekly print magazine in 1933, it was widely distributed during the 20th century and has had many notable editors-in-chief. It is currently co-owned by Dev P ...
, date=29 May 2018 , last=Palmer , first=Ewan , url=https://www.newsweek.com/why-was-tommy-robinson-arrested-far-right-activist-jailed-13-months-947525 , access-date=15 June 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180615073021/http://www.newsweek.com/why-was-tommy-robinson-arrested-far-right-activist-jailed-13-months-947525 , archive-date=15 June 2018
[{{cite web , title=The EDL – Britain's Far Right Social Movement , publisher=Radicalism and New Media Research Group, ]University of Northampton
The University of Northampton is a public university based in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England. It was formed in 1999 by the amalgamation of a number of training colleges, and gained full university status as the University of Northampto ...
, 22 September 2011 , url=http://www.radicalism-new-media.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/The_EDL_Britains_New_Far_Right_Social_Movement.pdf , access-date=2 February 2012 , url-status=usurped , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121031539/http://www.radicalism-new-media.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/The_EDL_Britains_New_Far_Right_Social_Movement.pdf , archive-date=21 January 2012
[{{cite news , last1=Bartlett , first1=Jamie , title=Across Europe with Tommy Robinson: inside the new wave of anti-immigration protest coming soon to Britain , work=The Daily Telegraph , date=4 December 2015 , url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/12031679/Across-Europe-with-Tommy-Robinson-inside-the-new-wave-of-anti-immigration-protest-coming-soon-to-Britain.html , access-date=5 December 2015 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151205111400/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/12031679/Across-Europe-with-Tommy-Robinson-inside-the-new-wave-of-anti-immigration-protest-coming-soon-to-Britain.html , archive-date=5 December 2015]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson jailed after breaking contempt of court laws with Facebook Live video , last=Dearden , first=Lizzie , date=29 May 2018 , work=The Independent , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-jailed-contempt-court-facebook-live-video-stephen-yaxley-lennon-a8374121.html , access-date=29 May 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530034718/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-jailed-contempt-court-facebook-live-video-stephen-yaxley-lennon-a8374121.html , archive-date=30 May 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Who is the real Tommy Robinson? , work=]The Daily Telegraph
''The Daily Telegraph'', known online and elsewhere as ''The Telegraph'', is a British daily broadsheet conservative newspaper published in London by Telegraph Media Group and distributed in the United Kingdom and internationally. It was found ...
, date=18 October 2013 , last=Rowland Hill , first=Matt , location=London, UK , url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10389954/Who-is-the-real-Tommy-Robinson.html , access-date=20 October 2013 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131018224858/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10389954/Who-is-the-real-Tommy-Robinson.html , archive-date=18 October 2013
[{{cite news , work=The Independent , title='What we're really against is extremism...': The complex world of former EDL leader Tommy Robinson revealed , date=8 October 2013 , last=Randolph , first=Eric , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/what-we-re-really-against-is-extremism-the-complex-world-of-former-edl-leader-tommy-robinson-8867256.html , access-date=18 February 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001214204/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/what-we-re-really-against-is-extremism-the-complex-world-of-former-edl-leader-tommy-robinson-8867256.html , archive-date=1 October 2015]
[{{cite web , last=Copsey , first=Nigel , title=The English Defence League: Challenging our Country and our Values of Social Inclusion, Fairness and Equality , publisher= Faith Matters , pages=13–14 , year=2010 , url=https://faith-matters.org/images/stories/fm-reports/english-defense-league-report.pdf , access-date=2 September 2011 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108132110/http://faith-matters.org/images/stories/fm-reports/english-defense-league-report.pdf , archive-date=8 November 2011]
[{{cite news , work=BBC News , title=Under the skin of English Defence League , date=12 October 2009 , url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8303786.stm , access-date=5 September 2011 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404182913/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8303786.stm , archive-date=4 April 2023]
[{{cite news , title=Who are the English Defence League? , last=Casciani , first=Dominic , work=BBC News magazine , date=11 September 2009 , url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8250017.stm , access-date=17 November 2017 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201114004255/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8250017.stm , archive-date=14 November 2020
*{{cite news , title=Is far-right extremism a threat? , author=Urry, Allan , work=BBC News Online , date=22 September 2009 , url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8266933.stm , access-date=12 November 2011 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240821122326/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8266933.stm , archive-date=21 August 2024]
[{{cite news , title=Luton parade protesters 'were members of extremist group' , date=12 March 2009 , newspaper=The Daily Telegraph , location=London, UK , url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4976105/Luton-parade-protesters-were-members-of-extremist-group.html , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315075012/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/4976105/Luton-parade-protesters-were-members-of-extremist-group.html , archive-date=15 March 2009]
[{{cite news , last=Murray , first=Douglas , title=Tommy Robinson: Double standards, not fear of diversity, provoked the EDL , newspaper=]The Spectator
''The Spectator'' is a weekly British political and cultural news magazine. It was first published in July 1828, making it the oldest surviving magazine in the world. ''The Spectator'' is politically conservative, and its principal subject a ...
, date=19 October 2013 , url=http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9055961/extreme-measures-2/ , access-date=17 October 2013 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017081513/http://www.spectator.co.uk/features/9055961/extreme-measures-2/ , archive-date=17 October 2013
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson quits EDL saying it has become 'too extreme' , work=]The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
, last=Siddique , first=Haroon , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/08/tommy-robinson-english-defence-league , access-date=8 October 2013 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008100824/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/08/tommy-robinson-english-defence-league , archive-date=8 October 2013
[{{cite news , title=Ex-EDL leaders Tommy Robinson and Kevin Carroll cleared , work=]BBC News
BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
, date=16 October 2013 , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24554284 , access-date=17 February 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218023410/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-24554284 , archive-date=18 February 2019
[{{cite news , title=EDL's Tommy Robinson Quits over 'Dangerous Far-Right Extremists' , work=International Business Times , date=1 July 2014 , last=Gover , first=Dominic , url=https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/english-defence-league-edl-tommy-robinson-quit-512216 , access-date=17 February 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218081936/https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/english-defence-league-edl-tommy-robinson-quit-512216 , archive-date=18 February 2019]
[{{cite news , work=Luton Today , title=EDL leader in lay-by attack , date=28 December 2011 , url=https://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/edl-leader-in-lay-by-attack-2388296 , access-date=27 November 2024 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120103105023/http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/local/edl_leader_in_lay_by_attack_1_3371382 , archive-date=3 January 2012]
[{{cite news , newspaper=Luton Today , title=EDL leader 'on hunger strike' in custody , date=5 September 2011 , url=http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/local/edl_leader_on_hunger_strike_in_custody_1_3028437 , access-date=6 September 2011 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111011154930/http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/local/edl_leader_on_hunger_strike_in_custody_1_3028437 , archive-date=11 October 2011]
[{{cite news , title=EDL 'Tommy' released from prison in Bedford and on bail for assault , work=Bedford Today , date=14 September 2011 , url=http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/local/bedford/edl_tommy_released_from_prison_in_bedford_and_on_bail_for_assault_1_3054299 , access-date=4 January 2012 , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804132641/http://www.bedfordtoday.co.uk/news/local/bedford/edl_tommy_released_from_prison_in_bedford_and_on_bail_for_assault_1_3054299 , archive-date=4 August 2012]
[{{cite news , work=Bedfordshire Local News , title=EDL members protest outside prison , date=7 September 2011 , url=http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/EDL-members-protest-outside-prison-07092011.htm , access-date=11 September 2011 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529043526/http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/EDL-members-protest-outside-prison-07092011.htm , archive-date=29 May 2013
*{{cite news , work=Luton Today , title=VIDEO: EDL members hold prison protest , date=8 September 2011 , url=http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/videos/video_edl_members_hold_prison_protest_1_3034025 , access-date=11 September 2011 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010112125/http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/videos/video_edl_members_hold_prison_protest_1_3034025 , archive-date=10 October 2011
*{{cite news , title=EDL steps up prison protest , work=Bedfordshire Local News , url=http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/Protesters-campaign-for-release-of-EDL-leader-10092011.htm , access-date=11 September 2011 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121114063357/http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/Protesters-campaign-for-release-of-EDL-leader-10092011.htm , archive-date=14 November 2012]
[{{cite news , title=Bail term threat of EDL top boss , date=18 September 2011 , work=Bedfordshire Local News , url=http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/Bail-term-threat-of-EDL-top-boss-16092011.htm , access-date=19 September 2011 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102075033/http://www.bedfordshire-news.co.uk/News/Bail-term-threat-of-EDL-top-boss-16092011.htm , archive-date=2 November 2013]
[{{cite news , title=EDL members fined over rooftop protest , date=16 November 2011 , work=Luton Today , url=http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/local/edl_members_fined_over_rooftop_protest_1_3252965 , access-date=4 January 2012 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220084553/http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/local/edl_members_fined_over_rooftop_protest_1_3252965 , archive-date=20 December 2011]
[{{cite news , newspaper=]The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
, title=English Defence League prepares to storm local elections , first=Kevin , last=Rawlinson , date=25 November 2011 , location=London, UK , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/english-defence-league-prepares-to-storm-local-elections-6267740.html , access-date=13 December 2011 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213215641/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/english-defence-league-prepares-to-storm-local-elections-6267740.html , archive-date=13 December 2011
[{{cite web , website=British Freedom Party , title=Tommy Robinson steps down from party to devote all his energy to EDL , url=http://britishfreedom.org/tommy-robinson-steps-down-from-party-to-devote-all-his-energy-to-edl , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021003540/http://britishfreedom.org/tommy-robinson-steps-down-from-party-to-devote-all-his-energy-to-edl , archive-date=21 October 2012]
[{{cite news , title=EDL leader Tommy Robinson quits group , work=]BBC News
BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
, date=8 October 2013 , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24442953 , access-date=8 October 2013 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131008100942/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24442953 , archive-date=8 October 2013
[{{cite news , title=Ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson says sorry for causing fear to Muslims , work=]The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
, date=11 October 2013 , last=Malik , first=Shiv , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/11/edl-tommy-robinson-sorry-fear-muslims , access-date=29 October 2013 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020180624/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/11/edl-tommy-robinson-sorry-fear-muslims , archive-date=20 October 2013
[{{cite news , title=My 18 months with former EDL leader Tommy Robinson , work=]The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
, date=19 October 2013 , last=Ansar , first=Mohammed , url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/19/my-journey-with-edl-tommy-robinson , access-date=20 October 2013 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020043221/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/19/my-journey-with-edl-tommy-robinson , archive-date=20 October 2013
[{{cite web , title=BBC One to broadcast documentary on Tommy Robinson's departure from English Defence League , date=23 October 2013 , first=Sally , last=Kent , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/when-tommy-met-mo , access-date=23 February 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223010921/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/2013/when-tommy-met-mo , archive-date=23 February 2019]
[{{cite news , last1=Wright , first1=Paul , title=Pegida UK: Tommy Robinson says 'terrorist epicentre' of Birmingham will be location of far-right march , work=International Business Times , date=4 December 2015 , url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/pegida-uk-tommy-robinson-says-terrorist-epicentre-birmingham-will-be-location-far-right-march-1531890 , access-date=4 January 2016 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151212220303/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/pegida-uk-tommy-robinson-says-terrorist-epicentre-birmingham-will-be-location-far-right-march-1531890 , archive-date=12 December 2015]
[{{cite web , title=Tommy Robinson, Former EDL Leader, Claims Quilliam Paid Him To Quit Far-Right Group , date=4 December 2015 , first=Steven , last=Hopkins , website=Huffington Post UK , url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/12/03/tommy-robinson-claims-quilliam-paid-him-to-leave-edl_n_8710834.html , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161016004510/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/12/03/tommy-robinson-claims-quilliam-paid-him-to-leave-edl_n_8710834.html , archive-date=16 October 2016]
[{{cite news , title=EDL founder Tommy Robinson speaks at the Oxford Union , newspaper=BBC News , date=27 November 2014 , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-30224738 , access-date=9 January 2015 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112065249/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-30224738 , archive-date=12 January 2015]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson Speaks At Oxford University Union: Fear Has Paralysed The Police , last=Sherriff , first=Lucy , newspaper=Huffington Post , date=27 November 2014 , url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/27/tommy-robinson-speaks-at-oxford-university-union_n_6230288.html , access-date=9 January 2015 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231141621/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/11/27/tommy-robinson-speaks-at-oxford-university-union_n_6230288.html , archive-date=31 December 2014]
[{{cite news , last=Milmo , first=Cahal , title=EDL founder Tommy Robinson addresses Pegida anti-Islam rally in Holland , work=The Independent , date=12 October 2015 , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/edl-founder-tommy-robinson-addresses-pegida-anti-islam-rally-in-holland-a6691406.html , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223044403/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/edl-founder-tommy-robinson-addresses-pegida-anti-islam-rally-in-holland-a6691406.html , archive-date=23 December 2017
*{{cite news , last=Goodwin , first=Matthew , title=The fight against Islamophobia is going backwards , work=The Guardian , date=19 October 2015 , url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/19/islamophobia-government-engagement-muslims-anti-hatred-taskforce , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728204407/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/oct/19/islamophobia-government-engagement-muslims-anti-hatred-taskforce , archive-date=28 July 2017]
[{{cite news , last=Hopkins , first=Steven , title=Tommy Robinson Hospitalised After Being Attacked Outside Essex Nightclub, Days After Pegida Rally , work=Huffington Post UK , date=15 February 2016 , url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/02/15/tommy-robinson-hospitalised-_n_9237414.html , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216014637/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2016/02/15/tommy-robinson-hospitalised-_n_9237414.html , archive-date=16 February 2016]
[{{cite book , last=Robinson , first=Tommy , title=Enemy of the State , publisher=The Press News Ltd , location=]Batley
Batley is a market town in the Kirklees district, in West Yorkshire, England, south-west of Leeds, north-west of Wakefield and Dewsbury, south-east of Bradford and north-east of Huddersfield, in the Heavy Woollen District. In 2011, the popu ...
, West Yorkshire, England , year=2015 , isbn=978-0-9570964-9-3
[{{cite news , last1=Bartlett , first1=Jamie , title=What's it like to be Britain's most hated man? Ask Tommy Robinson , work=Daily Telegraph , date=4 February 2016 , url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/12140524/What-happens-if-you-express-a-negative-view-of-Islam-Ask-Tommy-Robinson.html , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414231813/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/12140524/What-happens-if-you-express-a-negative-view-of-Islam-Ask-Tommy-Robinson.html , archive-date=14 April 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson wins football ban court case against Bedfordshire police , work=International Business Times , date=19 September 2016 , url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ex-edl-leader-tommy-robinson-wins-football-ban-court-case-against-bedfordshire-police-1582177 , access-date=20 September 2016 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920041018/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/ex-edl-leader-tommy-robinson-wins-football-ban-court-case-against-bedfordshire-police-1582177 , archive-date=20 September 2016
*{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson Wins Court Case Against Bedfordshire Police Over Football Banning Order , work=Huffington Post , date=19 September 2016 , last=Sommers , first=Jack , url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/edls-tommy-robinson-wins-court-case-against-bedfordshire-police-over-football-banning-order_uk_57dff718e4b0d584f7f1fcb1 , access-date=23 February 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180916074457/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/edls-tommy-robinson-wins-court-case-against-bedfordshire-police-over-football-banning-order_uk_57dff718e4b0d584f7f1fcb1 , archive-date=16 September 2018]
[{{cite news , last=Brown , first=Raymond , title=Ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson's Cambridge pub incident – police boss defends officers , work=Cambridge News , date=1 September 2016 , url=http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/ex-edl-leader-tommy-robinson-s-cambridge-pub-incident-claims-police-boss-defends-officers/story-29676276-detail/story.html , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160903175509/http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/ex-edl-leader-tommy-robinson-s-cambridge-pub-incident-claims-police-boss-defends-officers/story-29676276-detail/story.html , archive-date=3 September 2016]
[{{cite news , title=Former EDL leader Tommy Robinson arrested after 'trying to film Muslims' outside court , last=Grafton-Green , first=Patrick , work=London Evening Standard , date=10 May 2017 , url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/former-edl-leader-tommy-robinson-arrested-after-trying-to-film-muslims-outside-court-a3535566.html , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171230231618/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/former-edl-leader-tommy-robinson-arrested-after-trying-to-film-muslims-outside-court-a3535566.html , archive-date=30 December 2017]
[{{cite news , title=Far right activist Tommy Robinson was warned by police after turning up at Canterbury Crown Court , last=Castle , first=Vicky , work=Kent Live , publisher=]Trinity Mirror
Reach plc (known as Trinity Mirror between 1999 and 2018) is a British newspaper, magazine and digital publisher. It is one of the UK's biggest newspaper groups, publishing 240 regional papers in addition to the national ''Daily Mirror'', '' ...
, date=8 May 2017 , url=http://www.kentlive.news/far-right-activist-tommy-robinson-was-warned-by-police-after-turning-up-at-canterbury-crown-court/story-30319870-detail/story.html , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508195005/http://www.kentlive.news/far-right-activist-tommy-robinson-was-warned-by-police-after-turning-up-at-canterbury-crown-court/story-30319870-detail/story.html , archive-date=8 May 2017
[{{cite book , last1=McLoughlin , first1=Peter , last2=Robinson , first2=Tommy , title=Mohammed's Koran: Why Muslims Kill For Islam , publisher=self published , year=2017 , isbn=978-1-5426-2780-1]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson Book Removed From Amazon, Just Days After Facebook Account Disabled , work=Huffpost , date=28 February 2019 , last=Togoh , first=Isabel , url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/amazon-bans-sale-of-tommy-robinson-book-one-day-after-he-was-removed-from-facebook_uk_5c768407e4b08c4f5555f501 , access-date=14 April 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404173950/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/amazon-bans-sale-of-tommy-robinson-book-one-day-after-he-was-removed-from-facebook_uk_5c768407e4b08c4f5555f501 , archive-date=4 April 2023]
[{{cite news , last=Wilford , first=Greg , title=Former EDL leader Tommy Robinson filmed brawling with man at Ascot , work=The Independent , date=25 June 2017 , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-edl-leader-ascot-brawl-fight-muslim-islamophobia-piers-morgan-a7807341.html , access-date=10 August 2017 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170810212033/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-edl-leader-ascot-brawl-fight-muslim-islamophobia-piers-morgan-a7807341.html , archive-date=10 August 2017]
[{{cite news , work=The Guardian , date=28 March 2018 , last=Rawlinson , first=Kevin , title=Tommy Robinson permanently banned by Twitter , url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/mar/28/tommy-robinson-permanently-banned-twitter-violating-rules-hateful-conduct , access-date=27 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128075339/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/mar/28/tommy-robinson-permanently-banned-twitter-violating-rules-hateful-conduct , archive-date=28 November 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Man guilty of hate crime for filming pug's 'Nazi salutes' , date=20 March 2018 , work=]BBC News
BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
, url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-43478925 , access-date=7 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181105005819/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-43478925 , archive-date=5 November 2018
[{{cite news , title=Count Dankula found guilty of hate crime after teaching pet pug 'Nazi salute' , date=20 March 2018 , url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/youtuber-count-dankula-found-guilty-of-hate-crime-for-teaching-pet-pug-nazi-salute-a3794926.html , access-date=14 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180321132412/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/youtuber-count-dankula-found-guilty-of-hate-crime-for-teaching-pet-pug-nazi-salute-a3794926.html , archive-date=21 March 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Finsbury Park terror suspect Darren Osborne read messages from Tommy Robinson days before attack, court hears , last=Dearden , first=Lizzie , date=23 January 2018 , work=]The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
, url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-darren-osborne-messages-finsbury-park-attack-mosque-van-latest-court-trial-muslims-a8174086.html , access-date=4 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104222657/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-darren-osborne-messages-finsbury-park-attack-mosque-van-latest-court-trial-muslims-a8174086.html , archive-date=4 November 2018
[{{cite news , last=Molloy , first=Mark , title=Former EDL leader Tommy Robinson condemned over Finsbury Park mosque comments , newspaper=The Daily Telegraph , date=19 June 2017 , url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/19/former-edl-leader-tommy-robinson-condemned-finsbury-park-mosque , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503060832/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/19/former-edl-leader-tommy-robinson-condemned-finsbury-park-mosque/ , archive-date=3 May 2018]
[{{cite news , last=Ruddick , first=Graham , title=ITV defends EDL founder's appearance on Good Morning Britain , work=The Guardian , date=20 June 2017 , url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jun/20/itv-defends-edl-founder-tommy-robinson-appearance-good-morning-britain , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170621194712/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jun/20/itv-defends-edl-founder-tommy-robinson-appearance-good-morning-britain , archive-date=21 June 2017
*{{cite news , last=Osborne , first=Samuel , title=Finsbury Park mosque attack: EDL founder Tommy Robinson's appearance on Good Morning Britain sparks outrage , work=The Independent , date=20 June 2017 , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/finsbury-park-mosque-attack-latest-tommy-robinson-edl-good-morning-britain-interview-islamophobia-a7798406.html , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171027040337/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/finsbury-park-mosque-attack-latest-tommy-robinson-edl-good-morning-britain-interview-islamophobia-a7798406.html , archive-date=27 October 2017
*{{cite news , last1=Horton , first1=Helena , last2=Boyle , first2=Danny , title='You're stirring up hatred like a bigoted lunatic': Piers Morgan in extraordinary row with ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson , work=The Daily Telegraph , date=20 June 2017 , url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/20/stirring-hatred-piers-morgan-rows-edl-leader-tommy-robinson/ , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508085716/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/20/stirring-hatred-piers-morgan-rows-edl-leader-tommy-robinson/ , archive-date=8 May 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Darren Osborne guilty of Finsbury Park mosque murder , date=1 February 2018 , work=]BBC News
BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
, url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42910051 , access-date=4 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107121349/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42910051 , archive-date=7 November 2018
*{{cite news , last1=Dodd , first1=Vikram , last2=Rawlinson , first2=Kevin , title=Finsbury Park attack: man 'brainwashed by anti-Muslim propaganda' convicted , date=1 February 2018 , work=The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
, url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/01/finsbury-park-van-attacker-darren-osborne-found-guilty-murder-makram-ali , access-date=4 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180201175942/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/feb/01/finsbury-park-van-attacker-darren-osborne-found-guilty-murder-makram-ali , archive-date=1 February 2018
[{{cite news , last=Dearden , first=Lizzie , title=Finsbury Park attacker turned violent by far-right posts from Tommy Robinson and Britain First, police say , date=26 February 2018 , work=]The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
, url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/finsbury-park-terror-attack-tommy-robinson-far-right-britain-first-mark-rowley-speech-police-a8229936.html , access-date=9 May 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180509225325/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/finsbury-park-terror-attack-tommy-robinson-far-right-britain-first-mark-rowley-speech-police-a8229936.html , archive-date=9 May 2018
[{{cite news , last=Agerholm , first=Harriet , title=Tommy Robinson threatens to 'find' UK's most senior counter terrorism police officer , date=27 February 2018 , work=]The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
, url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-counter-terrorism-find-uk-islamophobia-racist-edl-a8231286.html , access-date=4 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104212724/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-counter-terrorism-find-uk-islamophobia-racist-edl-a8231286.html , archive-date=4 November 2018
[{{cite news , date=28 November 2018 , work=ITV News , title=Syrian refugee, 15, fears school after playing field attack , url=https://www.itv.com/news/2018-11-28/syrian-refugee-15-fears-school-after-attack/ , access-date=5 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205104614/https://www.itv.com/news/2018-11-28/syrian-refugee-15-fears-school-after-attack/ , archive-date=5 December 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Syrian refugee, 15, says he feels unsafe at Huddersfield school as video emerges of attack on sister , date=29 November 2018 , last=Morris , first=Georgina , work=Yorkshire Post , url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/crime/syrian-refugee-15-says-he-feels-unsafe-at-huddersfield-school-as-video-emerges-of-attack-on-sister-1-9467749 , access-date=5 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130133220/https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/crime/syrian-refugee-15-says-he-feels-unsafe-at-huddersfield-school-as-video-emerges-of-attack-on-sister-1-9467749 , archive-date=30 November 2018]
[{{cite news , work=The Guardian , title=Syrian Huddersfield boy asks people not to attack his alleged bully , date=30 November 2018 , last=Parveen , first=Nazia , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/30/syrian-boy-jamal-asks-people-not-to-attack-his-alleged-bully-huddersfield , access-date=5 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201222835/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/30/syrian-boy-jamal-asks-people-not-to-attack-his-alleged-bully-huddersfield , archive-date=1 December 2018]
[{{cite news , work=The Independent , title=Syrian refugee attack: Family plan to sue Tommy Robinson over allegations against teenage victim , last=Dearden , first=Lizzie , date=29 November 2018 , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/syrian-refugee-school-attack-huddersfield-tommy-robinson-family-sue-victim-police-a8659921.html , access-date=6 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129200946/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/syrian-refugee-school-attack-huddersfield-tommy-robinson-family-sue-victim-police-a8659921.html , archive-date=29 November 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Bullied Syrian refugee says he will not return to Huddersfield school , date=29 November 2018 , last=Parveen , first=Nazia , work=The Guardian , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/29/bullied-syrian-refugee-huddersfield-school , access-date=6 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202041724/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/29/bullied-syrian-refugee-huddersfield-school , archive-date=2 December 2018]
[{{cite news , work=BBC News , title=Huddersfield video: Syrian boy fundraiser 'spent on relocation' , date=5 December 2018 , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-46456144 , access-date=6 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206012704/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-46456144 , archive-date=6 December 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson threatened with legal action over 'bully' video , work=]The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
, date=6 December 2018 , last=Parveen , first=Nazia , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/06/tommy-robinson-threatened-with-legal-action-over-bully-video , access-date=6 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206182644/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/06/tommy-robinson-threatened-with-legal-action-over-bully-video , archive-date=6 December 2018
[{{cite news , work=]The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
, date=21 January 2019 , last=Halliday , first=Josh , title=Bullied Syrian schoolboy to sue Facebook over Tommy Robinson claims , url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/21/bullied-syrian-schoolboy-to-sue-facebook-over-tommy-robinson-claims , access-date=21 January 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108001505/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jan/21/bullied-syrian-schoolboy-to-sue-facebook-over-tommy-robinson-claims , archive-date=8 November 2020
[{{cite news , title=Syrian refugee attack: Boy's family crowdfunding to sue Tommy Robinson and Facebook over 'defamation' , work=]The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
, date=21 January 2019 , last=Dearden , first=Lizzie , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/syrian-refugee-attack-jamal-tommy-robinson-sue-crowdfunding-facebook-huddersfield-school-a8738691.html , access-date=21 January 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122101548/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/syrian-refugee-attack-jamal-tommy-robinson-sue-crowdfunding-facebook-huddersfield-school-a8738691.html , archive-date=22 January 2019
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson admits he shared 'fake news' about Muslims attacking boy at school where Syrian refugee was filmed being bullied , first=Katy , last=Clifton , work=]London Evening Standard
The ''London Standard'', formerly the ''Evening Standard'' (1904–2024) and originally ''The Standard'' (1827–1904), is a long-established regional newspaper published weekly and distributed free of charge in London, England. It is print ...
, date=30 November 2018 , url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/tommy-robinson-admits-he-shared-fake-news-about-muslims-attacking-boy-at-school-was-syrian-refugee-a4005301.html , access-date=30 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201103736/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/tommy-robinson-admits-he-shared-fake-news-about-muslims-attacking-boy-at-school-was-syrian-refugee-a4005301.html , archive-date=1 December 2018
[{{cite news , title=Far-right activist Tommy Robinson removes videos after legal threat , work=]CNN International
Cable News Network International or CNN International (CNNi, simply branded on-air as CNN) is an international television channel and website, owned by CNN Worldwide. CNN International carries news-related programming worldwide; it cooperates ...
, date=30 November 2018 , url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/30/uk/tommy-robinson-syrian-refugee-gbr-intl-scli/index.html , access-date=30 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181201151003/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/30/uk/tommy-robinson-syrian-refugee-gbr-intl-scli/index.html , archive-date=1 December 2018
[{{cite news , work=Huffington Post , date=3 December 2018 , last=Day , first=Aasma , title=Lawyer Suing Tommy Robinson On Behalf Of Syrian Refugee Dismisses Claims He Is Blocking Free Speech , url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/family-of-bullied-syrian-refugee-to-sue-tommy-robinson-over-allegations-against-victim_uk_5c014b28e4b0249dce744229 , access-date=6 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206102415/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/family-of-bullied-syrian-refugee-to-sue-tommy-robinson-over-allegations-against-victim_uk_5c014b28e4b0249dce744229 , archive-date=6 December 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson's YouTube videos restricted after internet giant refuses to delete channel , work=The Independent , date=2 April 2019 , last=Dearden , first=Lizzie , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-youtube-videos-channel-restricted-muslims-a8850571.html , access-date=14 April 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414152225/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-youtube-videos-channel-restricted-muslims-a8850571.html , archive-date=14 April 2019]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson banned from Facebook and Instagram , last=Hern , first=Alex , date=26 February 2019 , work=The Guardian , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/feb/26/tommy-robinson-banned-from-facebook-and-instagram , access-date=26 February 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226134026/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/feb/26/tommy-robinson-banned-from-facebook-and-instagram , archive-date=26 February 2019]
[{{cite news , last=Dearden , first=Lizzie , title=Tommy Robinson could have caused Huddersfield grooming trials to collapse and child rapists go free , date=19 October 2018 , work=The Independent , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-prison-jail-grooming-gangs-huddersfield-leeds-contempt-court-facebook-video-a8592871.html , access-date=28 October 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210104194737/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-prison-jail-grooming-gangs-huddersfield-leeds-contempt-court-facebook-video-a8592871.html , archive-date=4 January 2021]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson: Contempt case referred to attorney general , date=23 October 2018 , work=]BBC News
BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
, url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45951152 , access-date=10 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112072931/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-45951152 , archive-date=12 November 2018
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson arrested for 'breaching the peace' outside court during grooming trial , last=Dearden , first=Lizzie , work=The Independent , date=25 May 2018 , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-arrested-leeds-court-child-grooming-trial-edl-founder-latest-a8368821.html , access-date=25 May 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180525150830/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-arrested-leeds-court-child-grooming-trial-edl-founder-latest-a8368821.html , archive-date=25 May 2018 , quote=Judge Heather Norton handed him a three months imprisonment in May last year but suspended it for 18 months on the condition he did not commit further offences. .."It is about preserving the integrity of the jury to continue without people being intimidated or being affected by irresponsible and inaccurate 'reporting', if that's what it was."]
[{{cite news , title=Who is Tommy Robinson – the former EDL leader once branded a 'bigoted lunatic' , work=The Daily Telegraph , date=20 June 2017 , url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/20/tommy-robinson , url-access=subscription , access-date=26 May 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/06/20/tommy-robinson , archive-date=12 January 2022{{cbignore]
[{{cite news , work=Yorkshire Evening Post , title=YEP says: Why what Tommy Robinson did was put Tommy first – what we did was put the victims first , date=19 October 2018 , url=https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/yep-says/yep-says-why-what-tommy-robinson-did-was-put-tommy-first-what-we-did-was-put-the-victims-first-1-9405525 , access-date=8 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209124655/https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/yep-says/yep-says-why-what-tommy-robinson-did-was-put-tommy-first-what-we-did-was-put-the-victims-first-1-9405525 , archive-date=9 December 2018]
[{{cite news , last=Daro , first=Ishmael N. , title=Who Is Tommy Robinson And Why Has His Arrest Captivated The Right Wing Media? , work=BuzzFeed News , date=29 May 2018 , url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/ishmaeldaro/tommy-robinson-arrest , access-date=3 May 2024 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710133548/https://www.buzzfeed.com/ishmaeldaro/tommy-robinson-arrest , archive-date=10 July 2018]
[{{cite news , title=EDL founder Tommy Robinson jailed for contempt of court , last=Perraudin , first=Frances , date=29 May 2018 , work=]The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
, url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/29/edl-founder-tommy-robinson-jailed-13-months , access-date=29 May 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529165755/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/may/29/edl-founder-tommy-robinson-jailed-13-months , archive-date=29 May 2018
[{{cite news , title=Ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson jailed at Leeds court , date=29 May 2018 , work=]BBC News
BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
, url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-44287640 , access-date=7 June 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180610012753/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-44287640 , archive-date=10 June 2018
[{{cite news , title=Britse anti-islamactivist Tommy Robinson de cel in , last=van Unen , first=David , date=28 May 2018 , work=NRC , language=nl , url=https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2018/05/28/britse-anti-islamactivist-tommy-robinson-de-cel-in-a1604472 , access-date=28 May 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428145327/https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2018/05/28/britse-anti-islamactivist-tommy-robinson-de-cel-in-a1604472 , archive-date=28 April 2019
*{{cite news , title=Verontwaardiging over publicatieverbod na arrestatie Tommy Robinson , date=29 May 2018 , work=]De Telegraaf
''De Telegraaf'' (; ) is the largest Netherlands, Dutch daily morning newspaper. Haro Kraak,Gaat Paul Jansen de crisis bij De Telegraaf oplossen?, ''de Volkskrant'', 2015. Retrieved 1 August 2015. Paul Jansen has been the editor-in-chief since ...
, language=nl , url=https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/2090353/verontwaardiging-over-publicatieverbod-na-arrestatie-tommy-robinson , access-date=29 May 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529130514/https://www.telegraaf.nl/nieuws/2090353/verontwaardiging-over-publicatieverbod-na-arrestatie-tommy-robinson , archive-date=29 May 2018
[{{cite news , date=5 August 2018 , work=Cambridge News , last=McMenemy , first=Rachael , title=Tommy Robinson: This is what the judges said when they released the EDL founder , url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/tommy-robinson-free-court-appeal-14992614 , access-date=8 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209165337/https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/tommy-robinson-free-court-appeal-14992614 , archive-date=9 December 2018]
[{{cite news , last=Bird , first=Steve , title=EDL founder Tommy Robinson jailed for contempt of court after broadcasting tirade on Facebook , work=The Daily Telegraph , url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/29/edl-founder-jailed-contempt-court-broadcasting-tirade-facebook , url-access=subscription , access-date=31 May 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/05/29/edl-founder-jailed-contempt-court-broadcasting-tirade-facebook , archive-date=12 January 2022{{cbignore]
[{{cite web , title=Tommy Robinson's appeal: what happened? , website=The Secret Barrister , date=18 July 2018 , url=https://thesecretbarrister.com/2018/07/18/tommy-robinsons-appeal-what-happened/ , access-date=2 August 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727181228/https://thesecretbarrister.com/2018/07/18/tommy-robinsons-appeal-what-happened/ , archive-date=27 July 2018]
[{{cite news , last=Dearden , first=Lizzie , title=Tommy Robinson faces new contempt hearing after being released from prison , date=1 August 2018 , work=The Independent , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-free-prison-bail-appeal-hearing-edl-leader-leeds-a8472921.html , access-date=5 August 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180801191402/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-free-prison-bail-appeal-hearing-edl-leader-leeds-a8472921.html , archive-date=1 August 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson: Ex-EDL chief appears at Old Bailey for contempt case , date=27 September 2018 , work=]BBC News
BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
, url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45668000 , access-date=10 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117143109/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-45668000 , archive-date=17 November 2018
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson: judge refers contempt case to attorney general , date=23 October 2018 , work=]The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
, last=Gayle , first=Damien , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/23/tommy-robinson-retrial-supporters-gather-at-old-bailey , access-date=10 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181110210049/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/23/tommy-robinson-retrial-supporters-gather-at-old-bailey , archive-date=10 November 2018
[{{cite news , last=Selk , first=Avi , title=Conservative outrage after anti-Muslim campaigner Tommy Robinson secretly jailed in Britain , newspaper=]Washington Post
''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...
, date=29 May 2018 , url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/05/29/conservative-outrage-after-anti-muslim-campaigner-tommy-robinson-secretly-jailed-in-britain/ , access-date=1 June 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603125111/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/05/29/conservative-outrage-after-anti-muslim-campaigner-tommy-robinson-secretly-jailed-in-britain/ , archive-date=3 June 2018
[{{cite news , title=Right-wing activist Tommy Robinson reportedly jailed after filming outside child grooming trial , work=Fox News , date=26 May 2018 , url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/right-wing-activist-tommy-robinson-reportedly-jailed-after-filming-outside-child-grooming-trial , access-date=27 May 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526224601/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2018/05/26/right-wing-activist-tommy-robinson-reportedly-jailed-after-filming-outside-child-grooming-trial.html , archive-date=26 May 2018]
[{{cite news , last=Isitman , first=Elif , title=Duitse politicus wil politiek asiel voor Tommy Robinson , date=29 May 2018 , work=]Elsevier
Elsevier ( ) is a Dutch academic publishing company specializing in scientific, technical, and medical content. Its products include journals such as ''The Lancet'', ''Cell (journal), Cell'', the ScienceDirect collection of electronic journals, ...
, language=nl , url=https://www.elsevierweekblad.nl/buitenland/achtergrond/2018/05/afder-wil-tommy-robinson-politiek-asiel-geven-619080/ , access-date=29 May 2018 , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529204230/https://www.elsevierweekblad.nl/buitenland/achtergrond/2018/05/afder-wil-tommy-robinson-politiek-asiel-geven-619080/ , archive-date=29 May 2018
[{{cite news , last=Independent Reporter , title=Tommy Robinson protest: Hundreds demonstrate in Downing Street after far-right figure arrested , work=The Independent , date=27 May 2018 , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-protest-downing-street-whitehall-free-latest-arrest-police-a8371616.html , access-date=3 May 2024 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240406124053/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-protest-downing-street-whitehall-free-latest-arrest-police-a8371616.html , archive-date=6 April 2024
*{{cite news , last1=Gayle , first1=Damien , last2=Ntim , first2=Zac , title=Protesters charged after pro-Tommy Robinson rally in London , work=The Guardian , date=11 June 2018 , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jun/11/protesters-charged-after-pro-tommy-robinson-rally-in-london , access-date=28 June 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180628102203/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/jun/11/protesters-charged-after-pro-tommy-robinson-rally-in-london , archive-date=28 June 2018
*{{cite news , last1=Powell , first1=Tom , last2=Grafton-Green , first2=Patrick , title=Twelve arrests as Tommy Robinson activists descend on Whitehall , work=London Evening Standard , date=15 July 2018 , url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/tommy-robinson-protest-clashes-break-out-as-thousands-of-activists-descend-on-whitehall-a3887361.html , access-date=17 July 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716200348/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/tommy-robinson-protest-clashes-break-out-as-thousands-of-activists-descend-on-whitehall-a3887361.html , archive-date=16 July 2018]
[{{cite news , last=Drury , first=Colin , work=The Independent , title=Bus driver in headscarf shows far-right Tommy Robinson demonstrators everything that's great about Britain , date=15 July 2018 , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/free-tommy-robinson-protest-london-inside-what-happened-far-right-march-a8448241.html , access-date=9 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181204101827/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/free-tommy-robinson-protest-london-inside-what-happened-far-right-march-a8448241.html , archive-date=4 December 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson protest: Police release pictures of nine people wanted after violence at London rally , date=23 July 2018 , last=Drury , first=Colin , work=The Independent , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-free-protest-met-police-london-wanted-violence-a8459726.html , access-date=9 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209234220/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-free-protest-met-police-london-wanted-violence-a8459726.html , archive-date=9 December 2018]
[{{cite news , last=Rodger , first=James , title=Petition to free Tommy Robinson signed 500,000 times after he's jailed for 13 months , work=Birmingham Mail , date=30 May 2018 , url=https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/uk-news/petition-free-tommy-robinson-signed-14722302 , access-date=1 June 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612141053/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/uk-news/petition-free-tommy-robinson-signed-14722302 , archive-date=12 June 2018]
[{{cite magazine , last1=Armstrong , first1=Stephen , title=This is the Twitter data that shows who's backing Tommy Robinson , magazine=Wired , date=28 July 2018 , url=https://www.wired.co.uk/article/tommy-robinson-free-tommy-twitter-data , access-date=2 August 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816062840/https://www.wired.co.uk/article/tommy-robinson-free-tommy-twitter-data , archive-date=16 August 2019]
[{{cite news , title=Trump's ambassador lobbied Britain on behalf of jailed right-wing activist Tommy Robinson , last=Hosenball , first=Mark , work=Reuters , date=14 July 2018 , url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-britain-robinson/trumps-ambassador-lobbied-britain-on-behalf-of-jailed-right-wing-activist-tommy-robinson-idUSKBN1K331J , access-date=17 July 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724110026/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-britain-robinson/trumps-ambassador-lobbied-britain-on-behalf-of-jailed-right-wing-activist-tommy-robinson-idUSKBN1K331J , archive-date=24 July 2018]
[{{cite news , last1=Polglase , first1=Katie , title=A jailed UK far-right activist has gained some big-name US supporters , work=CNN , date=26 July 2018 , url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/26/uk/tommy-robinson-supporters-steve-bannon-sam-brownback-intl/index.html , access-date=27 July 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727024727/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/26/uk/tommy-robinson-supporters-steve-bannon-sam-brownback-intl/index.html , archive-date=27 July 2018
*{{cite web , title=Tommy Robinson Free – MEF Heavily Involved , website=Middle East Forum , date=1 August 2018 , url=https://www.meforum.org/articles/2018/tommy-robinson-free-mef-heavily-involved , access-date=4 August 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804231852/https://www.meforum.org/articles/2018/tommy-robinson-free-mef-heavily-involved , archive-date=4 August 2018]
[{{cite news , title=No, Tommy Robinson hasn't been moved to a 71 per cent Muslim prison , date=14 June 2018 , last1=Smith , first1=Mikey , last2=MacKenzie , first2=Oliver , work=Cambridge News , url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/tommy-robinson-moved-muslim-prison-14786200 , access-date=7 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209165317/https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/tommy-robinson-moved-muslim-prison-14786200 , archive-date=9 December 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson supporter and convicted rapist Wayne Kirby jailed for threatening Sajid Javid , date=6 March 2019 , work=Worcester News , url=https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/regional/17477809.tommy-robinson-supporter-and-convicted-rapist-wayne-kirby-jailed-for-threatening-sajid-javid/ , access-date=16 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327091604/https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/regional/17477809.tommy-robinson-supporter-and-convicted-rapist-wayne-kirby-jailed-for-threatening-sajid-javid/ , archive-date=27 March 2019
*{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson supporter and convicted rapist jailed for threatening Sajid Javid on Facebook , date=5 March 2019 , work=The Independent , last=Forrest , first=Adam , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-supporter-rapist-wayne-kirby-jailed-abuse-sajid-javid-facebook-a8807666.html , access-date=16 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305100156/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-supporter-rapist-wayne-kirby-jailed-abuse-sajid-javid-facebook-a8807666.html , archive-date=5 March 2019]
[{{cite AV media , title=UK activist Tommy Robinson speaks out after prison release , work=Fox News , url=http://video.foxnews.com/v/5817330682001/uk-activist-tommy-robinson-speaks-out-after-prison-release , access-date=5 August 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805143448/http://video.foxnews.com/v/5817330682001/uk-activist-tommy-robinson-speaks-out-after-prison-release , archive-date=5 August 2018]
[{{cite news , last1=Beale , first1=Charlotte , title=Tommy Robinson complains he was 'mentally tortured' because he had no TV in prison , work=The Independent , date=8 August 2018 , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-prison-free-mentally-tortured-no-tv-edl-far-right-a8477096.html , access-date=19 August 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180804141412/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-prison-free-mentally-tortured-no-tv-edl-far-right-a8477096.html , archive-date=4 August 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Army investigates Tommy Robinson photo with soldiers , website=BBC News , date=9 October 2018 , url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-45805285 , access-date=17 October 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181017164709/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-45805285 , archive-date=17 October 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Counter-extremism chief attacks Tommy Robinson soldier photo , date=10 October 2018 , last=Grierson , first=Jamie , work=The Guardian , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/09/uk-army-investigates-tommy-robinson-poses-with-soldiers , access-date=25 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126092641/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/oct/09/uk-army-investigates-tommy-robinson-poses-with-soldiers , archive-date=26 November 2018]
[{{cite news , last=Dearden , first=Lizzie , title=Tommy Robinson invited to address US Congress members in Washington by Republican supporters , work=The Independent , date=25 October 2018 , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-jail-free-congress-us-republican-event-trump-visa-washington-speech-gosar-a8601866.html , access-date=5 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026003913/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-jail-free-congress-us-republican-event-trump-visa-washington-speech-gosar-a8601866.html , archive-date=26 October 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson not granted US visa in time for Washington visit , work=The Guardian , date=13 November 2018 , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/13/tommy-robinson-not-granted-us-visa-in-time-for-washington-visit , access-date=13 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113041707/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/13/tommy-robinson-not-granted-us-visa-in-time-for-washington-visit , archive-date=13 November 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Revealed: the hidden global network behind Tommy Robinson , date=7 December 2018 , work=The Guardian , last1=Halliday , first1=Josh , last2=Beckett , first2=Lois , last3=Barr , first3=Caelainn , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/07/tommy-robinson-global-support-brexit-march , access-date=14 April 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414015645/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/dec/07/tommy-robinson-global-support-brexit-march , archive-date=14 April 2019
* {{cite news , title=The far-right international , date=26 March 2019 , work=New Internationalist , last=Childs , first=Simon , url=https://newint.org/features/2019/02/11/far-right-international , access-date=14 April 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414015652/https://newint.org/features/2019/02/11/far-right-international , archive-date=14 April 2019]
[{{cite news , title=A spike in far right radicalisation should terrify us – here's how to stop it in its tracks , date=5 February 2019 , work=The Independent , last=Stuchbery , first=Mike , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/tommy-robinson-far-right-funding-yellow-vests-protests-youtube-prevent-radicalisation-a8763776.html , access-date=14 April 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414015642/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/tommy-robinson-far-right-funding-yellow-vests-protests-youtube-prevent-radicalisation-a8763776.html , archive-date=14 April 2019]
[{{cite news , title=This hardline US conservative think tank says it's funding Tommy Robinson rallies in the UK , date=14 July 2018 , work=iNews , last=Bailey , first=Luke , url=https://inews.co.uk/news/free-tommy-robinson-funding/ , access-date=14 April 2019 , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414015643/https://inews.co.uk/news/free-tommy-robinson-funding/ , archive-date=14 April 2019]
[{{cite news , title=Paypal stops handling payments for Tommy Robinson , work=BBC News , date=8 November 2018 , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-46139193 , access-date=13 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181113054843/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-46139193 , archive-date=13 November 2018]
[{{cite news , title=PayPal bans Tommy Robinson from using service , work=The Guardian , date=8 November 2018 , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/08/paypal-bans-tommy-robinson-from-using-service , access-date=25 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126005920/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/nov/08/paypal-bans-tommy-robinson-from-using-service , archive-date=26 November 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson supporters 'blocked fire exits to confront SNP MP' , work= The National , date=21 January 2019 , url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/17373344.tommy-robinson-supporters-blocked-fire-exits-to-confront-snp-mp/ , access-date=22 January 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122095605/https://www.thenational.scot/news/17373344.tommy-robinson-supporters-blocked-fire-exits-to-confront-snp-mp/ , archive-date=22 January 2019
*{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson and a 'small gang' blocked fire exits to get to SNP MP , work= The National , date=22 January 2019 , last=Learmonth , first=Andrew , url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/17374510.tommy-robinson-and-a-small-gang-blocked-fire-exits-to-get-to-snp-mp/ , access-date=11 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190123221456/https://www.thenational.scot/news/17374510.tommy-robinson-and-a-small-gang-blocked-fire-exits-to-get-to-snp-mp/ , archive-date=23 January 2019
*{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson tries to confront MP in Glasgow , work=]The Herald (Glasgow)
''The Herald'' is a Scottish broadsheet newspaper founded in 1783. ''The Herald'' is the longest running national newspaper in the world and is the eighth oldest daily paper in the world. The title was simplified from ''The Glasgow Herald'' in ...
, date=18 January 2019 , url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17368470.tommy-robinson-tries-to-confront-mp-in-glasgow/ , access-date=11 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203210543/https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17368470.tommy-robinson-tries-to-confront-mp-in-glasgow/ , archive-date=3 February 2019
*{{cite news , title=MP closes Facebook page after Tommy Robinson confrontation , work=STV News
''STV News'' is a Scottish news division produced by STV. The news department produces two regional services covering STV's Channel 3 franchise areas of Northern and Central Scotland.
STV News programmes are produced from studios in Glasgo ...
, date=20 January 2019 , last=Mitchell , first=Jenness , url=https://stv.tv/news/politics/1434760-mp-closes-facebook-page-after-tommy-robinson-confrontation/ , access-date=11 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203181926/https://stv.tv/news/politics/1434760-mp-closes-facebook-page-after-tommy-robinson-confrontation/ , archive-date=3 February 2019
*{{cite news , title=Far-right activist Tommy Robinson targets Glasgow MP outside city surgery , work=Evening Times
The ''Glasgow Times'' is an evening tabloid newspaper published Monday to Saturday in the city of Glasgow, Scotland. Called ''The Evening Times'' from 1876, it was rebranded as the ''Glasgow Times'' on 4 December 2019.The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
, date=21 January 2019 , last=Dearden , first=Lizzie , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tommy-robinson-stewart-macdonald-mp-snp-surgery-glasgow-library-video-far-right-a8738446.html , access-date=11 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214132842/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tommy-robinson-stewart-macdonald-mp-snp-surgery-glasgow-library-video-far-right-a8738446.html , archive-date=14 February 2019
[{{cite news , last=Williams , first=Sophie , title=YouTube bans ads on Tommy Robinson's account to stop him making money , work=Evening Standard , date=17 January 2019 , url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/youtube-bans-ads-on-tommy-robinson-s-account-to-stop-him-making-money-a4041796.html , access-date=17 January 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119123129/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/youtube-bans-ads-on-tommy-robinson-s-account-to-stop-him-making-money-a4041796.html , archive-date=19 January 2019]
[{{cite news , title=Rape charity hotline bombarded with 'racist abuse' from Tommy Robinson supporters , work=The Independent , date=16 February 2019 , last=Busby , first=Eleanor , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rape-crisis-tommy-robinson-facebook-wycombe-chiltern-south-bucks-far-right-a8782661.html , access-date=10 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190318214027/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/rape-crisis-tommy-robinson-facebook-wycombe-chiltern-south-bucks-far-right-a8782661.html , archive-date=18 March 2019
*{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson supporters attack Wycombe rape charity for advice leaflet , date=15 February 2019 , work=Bucks Free Press , last=Wareham , first=Stephanie , url=https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/17437321.tommy-robinson-supporters-attack-wycombe-rape-charity-for-advice-leaflet/ , access-date=10 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216143411/https://www.bucksfreepress.co.uk/news/17437321.tommy-robinson-supporters-attack-wycombe-rape-charity-for-advice-leaflet/ , archive-date=16 February 2019
*{{cite news , title=Rape charity gets abusive calls after Tommy Robinson post , work=BBC News , date=16 February 2019 , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-47260020 , access-date=10 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220082019/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-47260020 , archive-date=20 February 2019
*{{cite news , title=Rape Victim Hotline Suffers 'Racist Abuse' Following Tommy Robinson Facebook Post , work=Huffington Post , date=16 February 2019 , last1=White , first1=Nadine , last2=Parker , first2=Connor , url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rape-crisis-charity-bombarded-with-racist-abuse-following-right-wing-facebook-post_uk_5c67f899e4b033a799430498 , access-date=10 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219235950/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/rape-crisis-charity-bombarded-with-racist-abuse-following-right-wing-facebook-post_uk_5c67f899e4b033a799430498 , archive-date=19 February 2019]
[{{cite web , title=This is why Tommy Robinson was jailed for filming outside a court , last1=Finnegan , first1=Stephanie , last2=MacKenzie , first2=Oliver , date=30 May 2018 , website=Cambridgenews-mews.co.uk , url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/tommy-robinson-jailed-live-stream-14721419 , access-date=13 February 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180529204907/https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/tommy-robinson-jailed-live-stream-14721419 , archive-date=29 May 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson boasts about drugs and proclaims himself 'king of the whole Islam race', in leaked video , date=13 February 2019 , newspaper=]The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
, url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-video-drugs-cocaine-islam-far-right-israel-palestine-edl-a8776991.html , access-date=13 February 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214012141/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-video-drugs-cocaine-islam-far-right-israel-palestine-edl-a8776991.html , archive-date=14 February 2019
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson holds Salford protest against BBC Panorama , date=23 February 2019 , work=BBC , url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-47335414 , access-date=26 February 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190226070105/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-47335414 , archive-date=26 February 2019]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson claims to reveal all about 'fake news' BBC in documentary , last=Buck , first=Kate , date=23 February 2019 , work=Metro , url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/23/tommy-robinson-claims-to-reveal-all-about-fake-news-bbc-in-documentary-8723837/ , access-date=26 February 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190227060242/https://metro.co.uk/2019/02/23/tommy-robinson-claims-to-reveal-all-about-fake-news-bbc-in-documentary-8723837/ , archive-date=27 February 2019
* {{cite web , title=BBC – Complaints – BBC Panorama, BBC One, 23 February 2019 , website=bbc.co.uk , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complaint/panoramasweeney/ , access-date=27 February 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228011858/http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complaint/panoramasweeney/ , archive-date=28 February 2019]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson to face fresh contempt of court proceedings – Attorney general cites strong public interest grounds to bring case against EDL founder , last=Bowcott , first=Owen , date=7 March 2019 , work=]The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...
, url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/07/tommy-robinson-to-face-fresh-contempt-of-court-proceedings , access-date=7 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307161614/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/07/tommy-robinson-to-face-fresh-contempt-of-court-proceedings , archive-date=7 March 2019
[{{cite news , title=EDL founder Tommy Robinson jailed for mortgage fraud , newspaper=The Guardian (Associated Press) , page=10 , date=23 January 2014 , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/23/edl-founder-tommy-robinson-jailed-mortgage-fraud , access-date=23 January 2014 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203042758/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jan/23/edl-founder-tommy-robinson-jailed-mortgage-fraud , archive-date=3 February 2014]
[{{cite news , last=Arden , first=Christopher , title=English Defence League leader 'released from jail' , newspaper=The Guardian , date=22 February 2013 , location=London , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/feb/22/edl-leader-released-from-prison , access-date=24 February 2013 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004064019/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2013/feb/22/edl-leader-released-from-prison , archive-date=4 October 2013]
[{{cite news , title=EDL leader Stephen Lennon charged with mortgage fraud , work=BBC News , date=28 November 2012 , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20528031 , access-date=28 November 2012 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121129222144/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-20528031 , archive-date=29 November 2012]
[{{cite news , title=EDL Founder Tommy Robinson in Fear of Muslim Attack Beaten up in Woodhill Prison , newspaper=International Business Times , date=5 February 2014 , url=http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/edl-founder-tommy-robinson-fear-muslim-attack-beaten-woodhill-prison-1435264 , access-date=7 May 2014 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508030631/http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/edl-founder-tommy-robinson-fear-muslim-attack-beaten-woodhill-prison-1435264 , archive-date=8 May 2014]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson 'Attacked' In Prison, MoJ Urged To Re-Think Ex- EDL Chief's Incarceration , newspaper=Huffington Post (UK) , date=7 February 2014 , url=http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/02/07/tommy-robinson-prison_n_4744360.html , access-date=7 May 2014 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140401060252/http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/02/07/tommy-robinson-prison_n_4744360.html , archive-date=1 April 2014]
[{{cite web , title=Letter from Maajid Nawaz , publisher=Quilliam International , date=6 February 2014 , url=https://www.quilliaminternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Quilliam-letter-to-MoJ.pdf , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108062727/http://www.quilliaminternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Quilliam-letter-to-MoJ.pdf , archive-date=8 January 2018]
[{{cite news , title='The guards don't run the prison, Islam does': my interview with a 'reformed' Tommy Robinson , newspaper=The Daily Telegraph , url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/technology/jamiebartlett/100013835/the-guards-dont-run-the-prison-islam-does-my-interview-with-a-reformed-tommy-robinson , access-date=17 June 2014 , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140619153635/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/technology/jamiebartlett/100013835/the-guards-dont-run-the-prison-islam-does-my-interview-with-a-reformed-tommy-robinson , archive-date=19 June 2014]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson, former EDL leader, recalled to prison , newspaper=BBC News , date=20 October 2014 , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29690823 , access-date=21 October 2014 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141020200547/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-29690823 , archive-date=20 October 2014]
[{{cite web , title=EDL return to Luton as march passes peacefully , newspaper=Luton Today , date=24 November 2014 , url=http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/crime/edl-return-to-luton-as-march-passes-peacefully-1-6435168 , access-date=12 June 2016 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160807203009/http://www.lutontoday.co.uk/news/crime/edl-return-to-luton-as-march-passes-peacefully-1-6435168 , archive-date=7 August 2016]
[{{cite news , date=23 November 2018 , work=BBC News , title=UKIP AM calls for new leadership election over Tommy Robinson role , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-46318705 , access-date=26 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126052908/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-46318705 , archive-date=26 November 2018
*{{cite news , title=Anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson appointed as UKIP advisor , work=CNN , last=Masters , first=James , date=23 November 2018 , url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/23/uk/tommy-robinson-ukip-gbr-intl/index.html , access-date=26 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126024707/https://edition.cnn.com/2018/11/23/uk/tommy-robinson-ukip-gbr-intl/index.html , archive-date=26 November 2018]
[{{cite news , date=23 November 2018 , work=Belfast Telegraph , title=Nigel Farage calls Tommy Robinson a 'thug' , url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/nigel-farage-calls-tommy-robinson-a-thug-37560049.html , access-date=26 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126092724/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/video-news/nigel-farage-calls-tommy-robinson-a-thug-37560049.html , archive-date=26 November 2018]
[{{cite news , title=Revealed: far-Right Ukip Brexit demo 'organiser' is a convicted kidnapper , date=1 December 2018 , last1=Hope , first1=Christopher , last2=Bird , first2=Steve , work=The Telegraph , url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/12/01/revealed-far-right-ukip-brexit-demo-organiser-convicted-kidnapper/ , url-access=subscription , url-status=live , archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2018/12/01/revealed-far-right-ukip-brexit-demo-organiser-convicted-kidnapper/ , archive-date=12 January 2022{{cbignore]
[{{cite news , date=4 December 2018 , work=The Independent , title=Nigel Farage quits Ukip: Former leader leaves party over Tommy Robinson links , last=Embury-Dennis , first=Tom , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-quit-ukip-tommy-robinson-party-brexit-politics-resignation-leader-a8667311.html , access-date=4 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181205070731/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/nigel-farage-quit-ukip-tommy-robinson-party-brexit-politics-resignation-leader-a8667311.html , archive-date=5 December 2018
*{{cite news , title=Former leader Nigel Farage quits UKIP , date=4 December 2018 , work=BBC News , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46448299 , access-date=4 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619022153/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-46448299 , archive-date=19 June 2020
*{{cite news , work=ITV News , title=Ex-Ukip leader quits in protest at 'catastrophic' appointment of Tommy Robinson as adviser , date=7 December 2018 , url=https://www.itv.com/news/2018-12-07/ex-ukip-leader-quits-in-protest-at-partys-direction/ , access-date=7 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207214302/https://www.itv.com/news/2018-12-07/ex-ukip-leader-quits-in-protest-at-partys-direction/ , archive-date=7 December 2018
*{{cite news , date=27 November 2018 , work=The Guardian , last=Walker , first=Peter , title=Third Ukip MEP quits over party's courtship of Tommy Robinson , url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/nov/27/patrick-oflynn-ukip-mep-quits-tommy-robinson-gerard-batten , access-date=7 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181127142815/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2018/nov/27/patrick-oflynn-ukip-mep-quits-tommy-robinson-gerard-batten , archive-date=27 November 2018
*{{cite news , date=9 December 2018 , work=Leicester Mercury , title=MEP Jonathan Bullock quits UKIP over party leader's 'increasing support' for EDL founder Tommy Robinson , last=Martin , first=Dan , url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/mep-jonathan-bullock-quits-ukip-2308671 , access-date=10 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209194411/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/mep-jonathan-bullock-quits-ukip-2308671 , archive-date=9 December 2018
*{{cite web , title=Dr Julia Reid MEP resigns from UKIP over the current direction of the party , date=8 December 2018 , url=http://juliareid.co.uk/dr-julia-reid-mep-resigns-from-ukip/ , access-date=10 December 2018 , url-status=dead , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181209133615/http://juliareid.co.uk/dr-julia-reid-mep-resigns-from-ukip/ , archive-date=9 December 2018
*{{cite news , work=Gazette and Herald , date=10 December 2018 , last=Phillips , first=Alison , title=South West MEP quits UKIP over appointment of Tommy Robinson , url=https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/17287956.south-west-mep-quits-ukip-over-appointment-of-tommy-robinson/ , access-date=10 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210201319/https://www.gazetteandherald.co.uk/news/17287956.south-west-mep-quits-ukip-over-appointment-of-tommy-robinson/ , archive-date=10 December 2018
*{{cite news , work=Wales Online , title=Welsh MEP Nathan Gill quits Ukip in protest at Tommy Robinson link-up , date=6 December 2018 , last=Williamson , first=David , url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/welsh-mep-nathan-gill-quits-15516609 , access-date=7 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207135528/https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/politics/welsh-mep-nathan-gill-quits-15516609 , archive-date=7 December 2018
*{{cite news , date=7 December 2018 , work=BBC News , title=UKIP: Scottish leader David Coburn quits over 'extremism' , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-46481637 , access-date=7 December 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181207170145/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-46481637 , archive-date=7 December 2018]
[{{cite news , last1=Kentish , first1=Benjamin , title=Ukip to debate inviting Tommy Robinson to join party , work=The Independent , date=6 September 2018 , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tommy-robinson-ukip-party-membership-debate-gerard-batten-a8525471.html , access-date=9 September 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908065740/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/tommy-robinson-ukip-party-membership-debate-gerard-batten-a8525471.html , archive-date=8 September 2018]
[{{cite news , work=BBC News , title=UKIP AMs say Tommy Robinson should not be given membership , date=17 November 2018 , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-46234945 , access-date=26 November 2018 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128142745/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-46234945 , archive-date=28 November 2018]
[{{cite news
, title=Tommy Robinson to stand in European Parliament election
, date=25 April 2019
, work=BBC News
, url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-48055802
, access-date=25 April 2019
, url-status=live
, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426042927/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-manchester-48055802
, archive-date=26 April 2019
]
[{{cite news
, title=Tommy Robinson announces plans to stand as MEP
, date=25 April 2019
, work=The Guardian
, last=Halliday
, first=Josh
, url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/apr/25/tommy-robinson-stand-mep-manchester-event-community-leaders-condemn-anti-islam-activist
, access-date=26 April 2019
, url-status=live
, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426101801/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/apr/25/tommy-robinson-stand-mep-manchester-event-community-leaders-condemn-anti-islam-activist
, archive-date=26 April 2019
]
[{{cite news
, title=Tommy Robinson: Police investigate street brawl in which protester 'had nose broken' after milkshake attack
, date=3 May 2019
, work=The Independent
, last=Dearden
, first=Lizzie
, url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-milkshake-video-warrington-attack-fight-brawl-hospital-police-a8898786.html
, access-date=12 May 2019
, url-status=live
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, archive-date=16 May 2019
*{{cite news
, title=Woman claims Tommy Robinson ally broke her nose in Cheshire
, date=3 May 2019
, work=The Guardian
, last=Halliday
, first=Josh
, url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/03/woman-claims-tommy-robinson-ally-broke-her-nose-at-cheshire-event
, access-date=12 May 2019
, url-status=live
, archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190515221819/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/03/woman-claims-tommy-robinson-ally-broke-her-nose-at-cheshire-event
, archive-date=15 May 2019
]
[{{cite news , title=Journalist calls police as Tommy Robinson makes video at his home , last1=Walker , first1=Peter , last2=Parveen , first2=Nazia , newspaper=The Guardian , date=5 March 2019 , via=theguardian.com , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/05/journalist-makes-police-complaint-about-tommy-robinson , access-date=5 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305130304/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/05/journalist-makes-police-complaint-about-tommy-robinson , archive-date=5 March 2019]
[{{cite news , title=Police called after ranting Tommy Robinson bangs on critic's door at 5am , date=5 March 2019 , newspaper=]The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
, url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-mike-stuchbery-twitter-doorstep-video-luton-a8807916.html , access-date=5 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305124720/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/tommy-robinson-mike-stuchbery-twitter-doorstep-video-luton-a8807916.html , archive-date=5 March 2019
[{{cite news , title=Opinion: I am the latest victim of Tommy Robinson's campaign to intimidate his critics – but he won't shut me up , date=5 March 2019 , newspaper=]The Independent
''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publis ...
, url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/tommy-robinson-mike-stuchberry-door-knock-far-right-intimidation-a8808311.html , access-date=5 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305124724/https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/tommy-robinson-mike-stuchberry-door-knock-far-right-intimidation-a8808311.html , archive-date=5 March 2019
[{{cite web , first=Freddie , last=Lynne , title=Tommy Robinson LOSES his case against Cambridgeshire Constabulary , website=Cambridgeshire Live , date=15 March 2019 , url=https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/tommy-robinson-trial-live-updates-15977877 , access-date=15 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190315155446/https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/tommy-robinson-trial-live-updates-15977877 , archive-date=15 March 2019]
- {{cite web , title=Tommy Robinson loses harassment case against police force , website=The Guardian , date=15 March 2019 , url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/15/tommy-robinson-loses-harassment-case-against-cambridgeshire-police-force , access-date=16 March 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190315201336/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/mar/15/tommy-robinson-loses-harassment-case-against-cambridgeshire-police-force , archive-date=15 March 2019
[{{cite news , first=Joe , last=Roberts , title=Tommy Robinson suffers humiliating defeat in European elections , work=Metro UK , date=26 May 2019 , url=https://metro.co.uk/2019/05/27/tommy-robinson-blames-facebook-ban-admits-defeat-european-elections-9695004/ , access-date=26 May 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527000405/https://metro.co.uk/2019/05/27/tommy-robinson-blames-facebook-ban-admits-defeat-european-elections-9695004/ , archive-date=27 May 2019]
[{{cite news , title=Tommy Robinson guilty over Facebook broadcast , work=BBC News , date=5 July 2019 , url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48887440 , access-date=5 July 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705160502/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48887440 , archive-date=5 July 2019]
[{{cite news , last1=Dearden , first1=Lizzie , title=How close Tommy Robinson came to causing collapse of Huddersfield grooming gang trial , work=The Independent , date=5 July 2019 , url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-contempt-court-case-grooming-gang-trial-huddersfield-a8990436.html , access-date=11 July 2019 , url-status=live , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711105629/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/tommy-robinson-contempt-court-case-grooming-gang-trial-huddersfield-a8990436.html , archive-date=11 July 2019]
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