The verdict was met with a groan from Tommy Robinson’s supporters, who had sat behind the dock throughout his harassment trial. It took more than 11 hours of jury deliberations to find the far-right activist guilty of harassment causing fear of violence to two journalists, enough time for a band of lieutenants and hangers-on to get their hopes up that he might be acquitted. Yet as Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, potentially faces up to 10 years in prison, another narrative has now taken hold.
A miscarriage of justice has taken place, according to messages pumped out across his own media platforms and the ecosystem of self-styled “citizen journalists”. Some carried wild commentary during the trial, including from Robinson himself, who wondered aloud about a “Muslim” member of the jury. Other voices have since joined in, including Reform UK members and Rupert Lowe, the leader of the Restore Britain party and Nigel Farage’s main rival for hard-right voters.
We live in dark times,” tweeted Lowe, the MP for Great Yarmouth. Evidence at Southwark crown court heard how Robinson used what the prosecution described as “bullyboy, intimidatory tactics” against Daily Mail reporters Andrew Young and Jacob Dirnhuber after they reported on his alleged role influencing the 2024 Southend riots. They were forced to employ security or leave their homes, while a statement from Young’s daughter told of encounters outside the family address with men believed to have been sent by Robinson, a self-styled champion of women’s safety.
Robinson also admitted “paying” for the personal number of the editor of the Daily Mail, Ted Verity, who was left a message in which Robinson threatened to make the paper’s journalists and their families “famous”. While Robinson will learn his fate on 16 December, there are now wider implications for Britain’s far right. If he goes to jail again, the far right will be deprived of its most effective and – arguably – most charismatic leader, with little or no apparent replacement.
The obvious heir apparent is anti-migrant activist Daniel Thomas, AKA Danny Tommo, the leader of the Patriot Platform movement that has brought groups of masked men on to the streets of Dover and other towns this year. He, however, is in custody ahead of a trial over the alleged slashing of a dinghy in the Channel. That can be harder to monitor and police, but this conviction is clearly a big blow for the movement nationally.” The wind has also been taken out of the sails of the anti-migrant movement by other police arrests, including in connection with vandalism attacks targeting houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).
Of continuing concern to observers of the far right is the role of Elon Musk, who Robinson once again thanked for bankrolling his legal expenses after the multibillionaire owner of X was credited with supporting the activist’s terror charges acquittal last year. One day alone at Southwark court cost £20,000, Robinson told supporters, a drop in the ocean to Musk. Perhaps not surprisingly, others on the far right have been eyeing up that aid.
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