Jump to content

Tommy Robinson

Page semi-protected
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Patchen (talk | contribs) at 00:01, 2 June 2018 (Undid revision 844009958 by HJ Mitchell (talk)). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Tommy Robinson
Tommy Robinson in October 2015
Leader of the English Defence League
In office
August 2009 – 8 October 2013
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byTim Ablitt
Personal details
Born
Stephen Christopher Yaxley
Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon (legal name)

(1982-11-27) 27 November 1982 (age 42)
Luton, England
CitizenshipBritish
Political partyBritish National Party (2004–2005)[1]
British Freedom Party (2012)[2]
Residence(s)Luton, Bedfordshire, England
Known forFormer leader of the English Defence League and European Defence League
Websitehttps://tommyrobinson.online/

Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon (born 27 November 1982[3]), known by the pseudonym Tommy Robinson, and previously as Andrew McMaster and Paul Harris,[4] is a far-right activist[5][6][7][8][9] who co-founded and served as spokesman and leader of the English Defence League (EDL),[10] from which he resigned in 2013. He is currently serving a 13-month prison sentence for contempt of court after publishing a Facebook Live video of defendants entering a law court in defiance of restrictions on reporting ongoing trials.[11]

He also founded the European Defence League, and for a short time in 2012 was joint party vice-chairman of the British Freedom Party. He led the EDL from 2009 until 8 October 2013, when he was persuaded to leave the organisation and discuss alternative ways of tackling extremism with the think tank Quilliam. He continued as an activist, and in 2015 became involved with the development of Pegida UK, a British chapter of the German-based Pegida organisation.[12] Addressing a Pegida anti-Islam rally, Robinson stated that European culture was being put at risk by "fake refugees who have no intention of integration and no intention of assimilation". He said, "There is a reason why the state fears me in England. It is because we can bring people together and we are going to enter into a new era in Europe where everyone is going to unite against the Islamisation of our countries".[13]

He was a writer for The Rebel Media and the author of an autobiography, Enemy of the State, and Mohammed's Koran: Why Muslims Kill for Islam, co-authored by Peter McLoughlin.

Biography

Robinson was born Stephen Christopher Yaxley[14] in Luton. In an interview with Victoria Derbyshire on BBC Radio Five live in 2010, he said that his parents "were Irish immigrants to this country".[15] His mother, who worked at a local bakery,[16] remarried when Robinson was still young; his stepfather, Thomas Lennon,[1] whose surname Robinson took, worked at the local Vauxhall car plant.[16]

Robinson married in 2011 and is the father of three children.[17] He owns a sunbed shop in Luton.[18]

According to Robinson, after he left school he applied to study aircraft engineering at Luton Airport: "I got an apprenticeship six hundred people applied for, and they took four people on". He qualified in 2003 after five years of study, but then he was convicted for drunken assault of an off-duty police officer.[16] He served a 12-month prison sentence,[19] and as a result lost his job at Luton Airport owing to security measures imposed since the September 11 attacks.[16]

Robinson joined the British National Party in 2004. When questioned about this by the BBC's Andrew Neil in June 2013, he said that he had left after one year, saying, "I didn't know Nick Griffin was in the National Front, I didn't know non-whites couldn't join the organisation. I joined, I saw what it was about, it was not for me".[1]

As leader of the EDL, Robinson regularly wore a bullet-proof vest when appearing in public, telling the BBC that his business and his home have been attacked, and that he had been personally threatened by armed Muslims.[18]

Despite being accused of antisemitism, Robinson has declared his support for the Jewish people and Israel, calling himself a Zionist.[20]

English Defence League

Robinson with EDL demonstrators in Amsterdam in 2010
Main article: English Defence League

Lennon uses the alias Tommy Robinson, taking the name of a prominent member of the "Men In Gear" (MIG) football hooligan crew, which follows Luton Town Football Club.[21] Robinson was involved with the group United Peoples of Luton, formed in response to a March 2009 protest against Royal Anglian Regiment troops returning from the Afghan War[22] being attacked by the Islamist groups Al-Muhajiroun and Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah.[23] Robinson stated that he had been prompted to found the EDL after he had read a newspaper article about local Islamists attempting to recruit men outside a bakery in Luton to fight for the Taliban in Afghanistan.[16] In August 2009, he became leader of the newly established English Defence League with his cousin, Kevin Carroll, its deputy leader.[24] Robinson has appeared masked at protests.[19] Although Robinson repeatedly insisted from the early days of the organisation that the EDL was "against the rise of radical Islam" and that its members "aren't against Islam", its rank and file were noted for including football hooligans and members who described themselves as anti-Muslim.[21][25] Robinson founded the European Defence League, a co-ordination of groups similar to the EDL operating in different European countries.[citation needed]

Robinson was assaulted on 22 December 2011 after stopping his car due to another car flashing its lights at him. He said that a group of three men attacked and beat him, until they were stopped by the arrival of a "good Samaritan". Robinson said that the attackers were of Asian appearance.[26]

In 2012 Robinson announced that he had joined the British Freedom Party (BFP). He was appointed its joint vice-chairman along with Carroll after the EDL and the BFP agreed an electoral pact in 2011.[27] However, on 11 October 2012, Robinson resigned from the BFP to concentrate on EDL activities.[28]

Criminal record

Robinson was convicted in 2011 of using "threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour" during a fight between supporters of Luton Town 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 given a 12-month community rehabilitation order with 150 hours' unpaid work and a three-year ban from attending football matches.[29]

Robinson was arrested again after an EDL demonstration in Tower Hamlets 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",[30] and refused to eat what he believed was halal meat.[31] 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.[32] Robinson was released on bail on 12 September.[33]

On 29 September 2011, Robinson was convicted of common assault after headbutting a fellow EDL member at a rally in Blackburn in April that year.[34] He was sentences to 12 weeks' imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.[35] Robinson said that the assault had happened because of a confrontation with a neo-Nazi who had joined the EDL.[36][37]

On 8 November 2011, Robinson held a protest on the rooftop of the FIFA headquarters in Zürich against FIFA's ruling that the England national football team could not wear a Remembrance poppy symbol on their shirts. For this he was fined £3,000 and jailed for three days.[38]

In October 2012, Robinson was arrested and held on the charge of having entered the United States illegally. Robinson pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to using someone else's passport to travel to the United States in September 2012, and was sentenced in January to 10 months' imprisonment.[39][40] He was released on electronic tag on 22 February 2013.[41] On being released, Robinson told the BBC that he was dismayed to discover that the EDL's ranks had been swollen with racist and neo-Nazi supporters.[42]

Leaving the EDL

In April 2012, Robinson took part in a programme in the BBC's television series The Big Questions in which far-right extremism was debated. Mo Ansar took part in the same programme, and invited Robinson to join him and his family for dinner. This resulted in several meetings over the next 18 months to discuss Islam, Islamism and the Muslim community, accompanied by a BBC team which created the documentary When Tommy met Mo.[42] Robinson and Ansar visited the think tank Quilliam and Robinson witnessed a debate between Quilliam's director, Maajid Nawaz, and Ansar about human rights.[42] On 8 October 2013, Quilliam held a press conference with Robinson and 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".[43][44] Robinson said that it was still his aim to "counter Islamist ideology [...] not with violence but with democratic ideas". Ten other senior figures left the EDL with Robinson and Carroll, and Tim Ablitt became the EDL's new leader.[43][45]

When Robinson was questioned by The Guardian about having blamed "'every single Muslim' for 'getting away' with the 7 July bombings, and for calling Islam a fascist and violent religion, he held up his hands and said, 'I'm sorry, I'm sorry.'" Robinson also said that he would now give evidence to the police to help in their investigation of racists within the EDL. Robinson added that "his future work would involve taking on radicalism on all fronts".[46][47] Robinson claimed 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.[48][49]

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.[50] He pleaded guilty to two charges and in January 2014 was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.[51][40] Robinson was attacked by several fellow prisoners in HM Prison Woodhill.[52][53] Following news of the attack, Maajid Nawaz wrote to the Secretary of State for Justice, Chris Grayling, asking for Robinson's situation to be urgently addressed.[53][54] Shortly after this incident, Robinson was moved to HM Prison Winchester. Robinson told Jamie Bartlett, a director of the think tank Demos: "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".[55] 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.[55] He was due to talk to the Oxford Union in October 2014, but was recalled to prison before the event for breaching the terms of his licence.[56] He was ultimately released on 14 November 2014.[57]

Later activities

2014–2017

Robinson spoke to the Oxford Union on 26 November 2014. Unite Against Fascism (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."[58] He claimed that Woodhill prison had become "an ISIS training camp", and that radicals were "running the wings".[59] After finishing the licence at the end of his conviction, Robinson returned to anti-Islam demonstrations with Pegida, a German organisation founded in Dresden amid the European migrant crisis. He announced the creation of a British chapter of Pegida in December 2015. He affirmed that alcohol and fighting would not be permitted because "It's too serious now for that stuff", and told The Daily Telegraph that a mass demonstration would take place across Europe on 6 February 2016.[12] On 14 February 2016, Robinson was attacked and hospitalised after leaving a nightclub in Essex.[60]

Robinson travelled to watch UEFA Euro 2016 in France and demonstrated with a T-shirt and English flag ridiculing the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). Bedfordshire Police gave him a football banning order on his return; his lawyer Alison Gurden accused the police of a "campaign of harassment" and said that they had equated the proscribed terrorist group with all Muslims in their action.[61] In September, a judge at Luton Magistrates' Court dismissed the case, calling the prosecution's evidence "vague" and "cagey".[62]

On 27 August 2016, eighteen Luton Town football supporters, including Robinson and his family, were ejected from a Cambridge pub on the day of the Cambridge United versus Luton football match by police. Robinson claimed he had been victimised, and complaints were submitted to Cambridge Police.[63]

2017–present: Journalism and further convictions

Robinson became a correspondent for The Rebel Media, a Canadian right-wing politics and social commentary website, in February 2017.[64][non-primary source needed] In May 2017, he was arrested for contempt of court after he attempted to take video of the defendants in a child rape case outside Canterbury Crown Court.[65][66]

Robinson responded on Twitter to the 2017 Finsbury Park 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.[67] Appearing the next morning on Good Morning Britain, Robinson held up the Quran 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.[68] Robinson was involved in a fight at Royal Ascot later in June 2017, for which Morgan criticised him on Twitter.[69]

In May 2017, Robinson was convicted of contempt of court for using a camera inside Canterbury Crown Court and received a suspended sentence.[70] According to Judge Heather Norton, "this is not about free speech, not about the freedom of the press, nor about legitimate journalism, and not about political correctness. 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".[71]

On 25 May 2018, Robinson was arrested for a breach of the peace while live streaming outside Leeds Crown Court[71][72] during a trial on which reporting restrictions had been ordered by the judge.[73] Following Robinson's arrest, the judge Geoffrey Marson[74] issued a further reporting restriction on Robinson's case, prohibiting any reporting of Robinson's case or the grooming trial until the latter case is complete.[75][72][76] The secret jailing of Robinson drew condemnation from right wing circles.[77] The UK Independence Party leader Gerard Batten MEP expressed concern about the proceedings and the ban on reporting.[78] Robinson attracted sympathy from several right-wing politicians in Europe including the Dutch Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders[72] and the German Bundestag member Petr Bystron.[79] During the weekend following Robinson's arrest, hundreds of his supporters rallied outside Downing Street, calling for the government to "Free Tommy"[72][80] and an online petition for his release had more than 500,000 signatures.[81] On 29 May, the reporting restriction was lifted with regard to Robinson, following a challenge by journalists, and the media reported that Robinson had admitted contempt of court by publishing information that could prejudice an ongoing trial, and had been sentenced to 13 months' imprisonment.[11] 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 behavior.[82] Robinson was told that if the trial had to be re-run as a result of his actions the cost could be "hundreds and hundreds of thousands of pounds".[82][83]

Written works

  • Tommy Robinson, Tommy Robinson Enemy of the State. The Press News Ltd (9 December 2015). 344 pages. ISBN 978-0957096493 ASIN B0196VK3L4[84]
  • Peter McLoughlin, Tommy Robinson, Mohammed's Koran: Why Muslims Kill for Islam. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (21 June 2017). 400 pages. ISBN 978-0995584907 ASIN B0749P7DZJ

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Elgot, Jessica (16 June 2013). "EDL's Tommy Robinson Admits Real Name Is Stephen Yaxley, Was In BNP To Andrew Neil On Sunday Politics". The Huffington Post (UK). Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ "Stephen Lennon and Kevin Carroll Join British Freedom!". British Freedom Party. 5 May 2012. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
  3. ^ EDL leader interviewed by Andrew Neil on Sunday Politics (16Jun13), 16 June 2013, archived from the original on 30 June 2016, retrieved 22 March 2018 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "EDL leader Stephen Lennon jailed for false passport offence". BBC News. 7 January 2013. Archived from the original on 9 April 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Emma-Lee Moss,The Story of Tommy Robinson, Hateful Hero of the British Far-Right Archived 21 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine,Vice, 16 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  6. ^ Lizzie Dearden, "Finsbury Park attacker turned violent by far-right posts from Tommy Robinson and Britain First, police say" Archived 9 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine, The Independent, 26 February 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  7. ^ Simon Childs and James Poulter, Alt-Right Figures Pretending to Be Journalists Are Playing a Dangerous Game Archived 9 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Vice, 12 March 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  8. ^ Fiona Hamilton,Far-right leaders ‘contacted Darren Osborne before Finsbury Park mosque attack’, The Times, 24 January 2018,Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  9. ^ Sanya Burgess, "Tommy Robinson suspended from Twitter for 'hateful conduct'" Archived 10 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Sky News, 28 March 2018. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  10. ^ "The EDL - Britain's Far Right Social Movement" Archived 21 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine, Radicalism and New Media Research Group, University of Northampton, 22 September 2011. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  11. ^ a b Dearden, Lizzie (29 May 2018). "Tommy Robinson jailed after breaking contempt of court laws with Facebook Live video". The Independent. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  12. ^ a b Bartlett, Jamie (4 December 2015). "Across Europe with Tommy Robinson: inside the new wave of anti-immigration protest coming soon to Britain". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 5 December 2015. Retrieved 5 December 2015. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ Cahal Milmo, "EDL founder Tommy Robinson addresses Pegida anti-Islam rally in Holland" Archived 23 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine, The Independent, 13 October 2015
    - Matthew Goodwin, "The fight against Islamophobia is going backwards" Archived 28 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian, 19 October 2015
  14. ^ "Robinson: I have to live a two-tier life". BBC News. 17 June 2013. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  15. ^ Victoria Derbyshire, "Interview with Tommy Robinson", BBC Radio Five live, 4 January 2010
  16. ^ a b c d e Rowland Hill, Matt (18 October 2013). "Who is the real Tommy Robinson?". The Daily Telegraph. London, UK. Archived from the original on 18 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ EDL founder Stephen Lennon guilty over football brawl Archived 25 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine, BBC News. 25 July 2011; retrieved 4 January 2012.
  18. ^ a b "Inside the English Defence League leadership". BBC Newsnight. BBC. 2 February 2011. Archived from the original on 3 February 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ a b Copsey, 2010, pp. 13–14.
  20. ^ Rashty, Sandy (5 March 2015). "What makes the EDL's former leader, who says he is a friend of the Jews, tick?". The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ a b "Under the skin of English Defence League". BBC News. 12 October 2009.
  22. ^ Urry, Allan (22 September 2009). "Is far-right extremism a threat?". BBC News Online.
  23. ^ "Luton parade protesters 'were members of extremist group'". The Daily Telegraph. London, UK. 12 March 2009. Archived from the original on 15 March 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    - "Who are the English Defence League?", BBC News magazine. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  24. ^ "Quitting the English Defence League: When Tommy Met Mo" Archived 2 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine, BBC.co.uk; broadcast 28 October 2013 (video from 8:42); accessed 31 October 2013.
  25. ^ Casciani, Dominic (11 September 2009). "Who are the English Defence League?". BBC News. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  26. ^ "EDL leader in lay-by attack". Luton Today. 28 December 2011. Archived from the original on 3 January 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ Kevin Rawlinson (25 November 2011). "English Defence League prepares to storm local elections". The Independent. London, UK. Archived from the original on 13 December 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ British Freedom Party, "Tommy Robinson steps down from party to devote all his energy to EDL" Archived 21 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  29. ^ "EDL founder Stephen Lennon guilty over football brawl". BBC News. BBC. 25 July 2011. Archived from the original on 25 July 2011. Retrieved 3 September 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ "EDL leader 'on hunger strike' in custody". Luton Today. 5 September 2011. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 6 September 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ EDL 'Tommy' released from prison in Bedford and on bail for assault, Bedford Today, 14 September 2011; retrieved 4 January 2012.
  32. ^ "EDL members protest outside prison". Bedfordshire Local News. 7 September 2011. Archived from the original on 29 May 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    - "VIDEO: EDL members hold prison protest". Luton Today. 8 September 2011. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011. Retrieved 11 September 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
    - "EDL steps up prison protest". Bedfordshire Local News. Archived from the original on 14 November 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ "Bail term threat of EDL top boss". Bedfordshire Local News. 18 September 2011. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 19 September 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ "EDL leader Stephen Lennon convicted of assault". BBC News. 29 September 2011. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  35. ^ Carter, Helen (3 November 2011). "EDL leader sentenced for headbutting fellow protester". The Guardian. London, UK. Archived from the original on 5 July 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ BBC, The Big Questions, series 5 episode 13 Archived 19 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine, bbc.co.uk; broadcast 1 April 2012.
    - BBC, The Big Questions, series 5 episode 13; broadcast 1 April 2012: video from 1:59.
  37. ^ BBC Three Counties Radio, "Olly Mann is joined in the studio by Tommy Robinson who apologises for previous extremist comments" Archived 20 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine, broadcast 9 October 2013
  38. ^ "EDL members fined over rooftop protest". Luton Today. 16 November 2011. Archived from the original on 20 December 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  39. ^ "EDL leader Lennon jailed for passport offence". Sky News. 7 January 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013.
  40. ^ a b "EDL founder Tommy Robinson jailed for mortgage fraud". The Guardian (Associated Press). 23 January 2014. p. 10. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 23 January 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  41. ^ Arden, Christopher (22 February 2013). "English Defence League leader 'released from jail'". The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  42. ^ a b c "Quitting the English Defence League: When Tommy Met Mo" Archived 2 November 2013 at the Wayback Machine, bbc.co.uk; accessed 31 October 2013.
  43. ^ a b "EDL leader Tommy Robinson quits group". BBC News. 8 October 2013. Archived from the original on 8 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  44. ^ Murray, Douglas (19 October 2013). "Tommy Robinson: Double standards, not fear of diversity, provoked the EDL". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 17 October 2013. Retrieved 17 October 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  45. ^ Siddique, Haroon. "Tommy Robinson quits EDL saying it has become 'too extreme'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 8 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  46. ^ Malik, Shiv (11 October 2013). "Ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson says sorry for causing fear to Muslims". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  47. ^ Ansar, Mohammed (19 October 2013). "My 18 months with former EDL leader Tommy Robinson". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2013. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  48. ^ Wright, Paul (4 December 2015). "Pegida UK: Tommy Robinson says 'terrorist epicentre' of Birmingham will be location of far-right march". International Business Times. Archived from the original on 12 December 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2016. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  49. ^ Steven Hopkins (4 December 2015). "Tommy Robinson, Former EDL Leader, Claims Quilliam Paid Him To Quit Far-Right Group". Huffington Post UK. Archived from the original on 16 October 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  50. ^ "EDL leader Stephen Lennon charged with mortgage fraud". BBC News. 28 November 2012. Archived from the original on 29 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  51. ^ "EDL founder Stephen Yaxley-Lennon admits mortgage fraud". BBC News. 26 November 2013. Archived from the original on 5 February 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  52. ^ "EDL Founder Tommy Robinson in Fear of Muslim Attack Beaten up in Woodhill Prison". International Business Times. 5 February 2014. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  53. ^ a b "Tommy Robinson 'Attacked' In Prison, MoJ Urged To Re-Think Ex- EDL Chief's Incarceration". Huffington Post (UK). 7 February 2014. Archived from the original on 1 April 2014. Retrieved 7 May 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  54. ^ Letter from Maajid Nawaz Archived 8 January 2018 at the Wayback Machine, quilliamfoundation.org, 6 February 2014.
  55. ^ a b "'The guards don't run the prison, Islam does': my interview with a 'reformed' Tommy Robinson". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 19 June 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  56. ^ "Tommy Robinson, former EDL leader, recalled to prison". BBC News. 20 October 2014. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2014. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  57. ^ "EDL return to Luton as march passes peacefully". Luton Today. 24 November 2014. Archived from the original on 7 August 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2016. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  58. ^ "EDL founder Tommy Robinson speaks at the Oxford Union". BBC News. 27 November 2014. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 9 January 2015. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  59. ^ Sherriff, Lucy (27 November 2014). "Tommy Robinson Speaks At Oxford University Union: Fear Has Paralysed The Police". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2015. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  60. ^ Steven Hopkins, "Tommy Robinson Hospitalised After Being Attacked Outside Essex Nightclub, Days After Pegida Rally" Archived 16 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Huffington Post UK, 15 February 2016.
  61. ^ Penn, Stephen (30 June 2016). "Former EDL leader Tommy Robinson contesting attempted football ban for waving anti-ISIS flag". Bedfordshire News. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
  62. ^ "Ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson wins football ban court case against Bedfordshire police". International Business Times. 19 September 2016. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  63. ^ Raymond Brown, "Ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson's Cambridge pub incident - police boss defends officers" Archived 3 September 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Cambridge News, 1 September 2016.
  64. ^ The Rebel Media - Robinson site(subscription required) Archived 19 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine
  65. ^ Patrick Grafton-Green (10 May 2017). "Former EDL leader Tommy Robinson arrested after 'trying to film Muslims' outside court". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  66. ^ Vicky Castle (8 May 2017). "Far right activist Tommy Robinson was warned by police after turning up at Canterbury Crown Court". Kent Live. Trinity Mirror. Archived from the original on 8 May 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  67. ^ "Former EDL leader Tommy Robinson condemned over Finsbury Park mosque comments". The Daily Telegraph. 19 June 2017. Archived from the original on 3 May 2018. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  68. ^ Graham Ruddick, "ITV defends EDL founder's appearance on Good Morning Britain" Archived 21 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine, The Guardian, 20 June 2017.
    - Finsbury Park mosque attack: EDL founder Tommy Robinson's appearance on Good Morning Britain sparks outrage Archived 27 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine, independent.co.uk, 20 June 2017.
    - Piers Morgan blasts former EDL leader Tommy Robinson Archived 22 June 2017 at the Wayback Machine, itv.com, 20 June 2017.
    - 'You’re stirring up hatred like a bigoted lunatic': Piers Morgan in extraordinary row with ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson Archived 8 May 2018 at the Wayback Machine, Telegraph.co.uk, 20 June 2017.
  69. ^ Greg Wilford (25 June 2017). "Former EDL leader Tommy Robinson filmed brawling with man at Ascot". The Independent. Archived from the original on 10 August 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2017. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  70. ^ Telegraph Reporters (20 June 2017). "Who is Tommy Robinson - the former EDL leader once branded a 'bigoted lunatic'". Telegraph. Retrieved 26 May 2018.
  71. ^ a b Dearden, Lizzie (25 May 2018). "Tommy Robinson arrested for 'breaching the peace' outside court during grooming trial". The Independent. Archived from the original on 25 May 2018. Retrieved 25 May 2018. 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}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  72. ^ a b c d Ishmael N. Daro, "Who Is Tommy Robinson And Why Has His Arrest Captivated The Right Wing Media?", BuzzFeed News, 29 May 2018
  73. ^ Perraudin, Frances (29 May 2018). "EDL founder Tommy Robinson jailed for contempt of court". The Guardian. Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  74. ^ "Ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson jailed at Leeds court". BBC. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  75. ^ van Unen, David (28 May 2018). "Britse anti-islamactivist Tommy Robinson de cel in". NRC (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 May 2018.
  76. ^ Verontwaardiging over publicatieverbod na arrestatie Tommy Robinson, De Telegraaf, 29 May 2018
  77. ^ Avi Selk, Conservative outrage after anti-Muslim campaigner Tommy Robinson secretly jailed in Britain, Washington Post, 29 May 2018
  78. ^ "Right-wing activist Tommy Robinson reportedly jailed after filming outside child grooming trial". Fox News. 26 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  79. ^ Elif Isitman, Duitse politicus wil politiek asiel voor Tommy Robinson, Elsevier, 29 May 2018 (in Dutch)
  80. ^ "Tommy Robinson protest: Hundreds demonstrate in Downing Street after far-right figure arrested", The Independent, 28 May 2018
  81. ^ James Rodger, "Petition to free Tommy Robinson signed 500,000 times after he's jailed for 13 months", Birmingham Mail, 30 May 2018
  82. ^ a b "Ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson jailed at Leeds court". BBC News Online. BBC. 29 May 2018. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  83. ^ Steve Bird. "EDL founder Tommy Robinson jailed for contempt of court after broadcasting tirade on Facebook". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
  84. ^ Bartlett, Jamie (4 February 2016). "What's it like to be Britain's most hated man? Ask Tommy Robinson". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 14 April 2018. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)

Sources

Wikiquote has quotations related to Tommy Robinson.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Tommy_Robinson&oldid=844010158"