Who is Tommy Robinson behind the huge right-wing rally in London?

More than 100,000 people took part in a protest in London on Saturday (September 13) organized by right-wing activist Tommy Robinson. It is considered one of the largest right-wing gatherings in recent UK history.

The rally titled ‘Unite the Kingdom’ was originally announced as an anti-immigration movement, but it eventually turned violent. According to the police, between 110,000 and 150,000 people participated in the protest.

On the other hand, about 5,000 counter-protesters also gathered in Whitehall. Police clashed with Robinson’s supporters as they tried to keep the two sides apart.

At least 26 police officers were injured in the violence. Four of them were seriously injured. Some of them had broken teeth, some were feared to have broken noses, and some had serious head injuries and spinal problems. Police have arrested at least 25 people. They have been charged with a variety of offences, including violence, assault and vandalism.

Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is a British far-right activist and founder of the English Defence League (EDL). The organisation was known for its anti-Islamic rhetoric and violent protests in the late 2000s and 2010s.

Tommy Robinson was banned from Twitter in 2018, and from Facebook and Instagram in 2019 for hate speech on social media. However, his account was reinstated in 2022 after Elon Musk acquired Twitter and now has over a million followers.

Robinson has developed close ties to far-right groups not only in Britain but also in the US. He has appeared on media outlets such as Fox News and Infowars and has received financial support from the US-based Middle East Forum. Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tari has also cited him as an inspiration.

In August 2024, Robinson falsely claimed that the attacker was Muslim after a stabbing in Southport. He incited supporters to "riot". He was charged with inciting riots.

Criminal history

Tommy Robinson has a criminal record.

• Convicted of assault in 2005.

• Convicted of passport fraud in 2012.

• Convicted of mortgage fraud in 2014.

• Convicted of contempt of court in 2018.

He has served four prison sentences so far.