Tommy Robinson declares being jailed would be a ‘win’ for his cause as he appeals for donations
‘My support will be stronger than ever ... either way I win,’ activist said before sentencing
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Tommy Robinson has described being jailed for contempt of court as a “win” after appealing for more money from supporters.
Despite claiming he would be killed in prison and appealing publicly for asylum in the US, Robinson said that imprisoning him would be “the best thing [judges] can do for our cause”.
The anti-Islam activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, received hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations and a surge in international support after being jailed last year.
Robinson was freed when the Court of Appeal quashed the case because of procedural failings in August, but High Court judges found he had committed contempt following a re-hearing last week.
In a video filmed ahead of his sentencing on Thursday, he said: “I genuinely believe that the best thing they can do for our cause is send me to jail.”
“You’ve added more support for me and for my cause,” Robinson added, addressing judges who considered the case.
“Depending what decision you make on Thursday, my support will be stronger than ever … either way I win.”
In other posts, Robinson claimed he would be murdered by “jihad gangs” and pleaded for Donald Trump to grant him political asylum in the US.
He directed his 50,000 followers on the Telegram encrypted messaging app to donate to a new fundraising page, writing: “I need your help urgently – if you are able to help me with anything whatsoever, please pledge your support.”
Robinson’s first imprisonment, for violating a reporting restriction covering a series of linked grooming gang trials, was covered prominently by international media including Fox News in the US and the Kremlin-owned outlets RT and Sputnik.
Robinson was under a suspended sentence for committing contempt of court in Canterbury, had been warned he would be jailed for further breaches and made clear that he knew of the reporting ban during the livestream.
The Russian foreign ministry has commented on his current case, with a spokesperson telling the Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper it was “watching the situation” and suggesting that Robinson had been prosecuted for his “political convictions”.
High-profile figures including Donald Trump Jr, Steve Bannon, Dutch populist Geert Wilders and internet personalities associated with the global far right flocked to Robinson’s cause last year, while the US ambassador for international religious freedom lobbied the British government over the case.
“I’d have done six months just for that recognition,” he wrote in a letter from prison in June 2018.
Julia Ebner, a research fellow at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), said Robinson had been able to “frame himself as a martyr and political prisoner” in countries without comparable contempt of court laws.
“During the case he has been able to gain both attention and money, which has allowed him to catapult his messages to a much wider audience around the world,” she told The Independent.
“He is very skilful at framing any outcome as him being the victim of a corrupt elite.”
Amid a wave of “Free Tommy” protests – organised by US think tank the Middle East Forum last year - donations poured into numerous crowdfunding accounts claiming to be raising money on his behalf.
In October, one of Robinson’s former assistants told the Sunday Times that his Stripe online payment processing account had at one point contained £2m.
Later that month, Robinson said there was a “pot in excess of a few hundred thousand pounds” left and claimed he was funnelling donations into a public limited company as he “worked out the tax implications”.
Ms Ebner said Robinson’s supporters have also capitalised on the case, with his former employer Ezra Levant – of Canada’s Rebel Media website – repeatedly launching crowdfunding campaigns to send “reporters” to court.
“It’s impressive to see how much money and attention they’ve been able to get,” she added.
“You’ve got a mix of Robinson supporters who are on the very extreme fringes, and people who aren’t extreme but fall prey to his victimhood narrative.
“They find common ground on their support of Robinson and what they think is freedom of speech. Then they can use it as a rallying point and a springboard to reach new audiences.”
Robinson’s social media following rocketed during his last imprisonment, although his Facebook account was later deleted and YouTube imposed restrictions on his videos.
The bans forced him to move his main social media channel to Telegram, where he posts videos, posts and voice messages for his 49,700 followers.
Robinson also sends emails to a list of subscribers, continues to upload videos on YouTube and publicises himself via his “TR News” website.
It is the latest in a series of online platforms Robinson has used to preach his opposition to Islam and “political correctness” since co-founding the English Defence League (EDL) in 2009.
After quitting the group in 2013, Robinson attempted to set up a UK chapter of German anti-Islam movement Pegida and worked for Rebel Media before going it alone as an “independent reporter”.
Despite his activities being interrupted by a series of prosecutions, including an 18-month sentence for mortgage fraud in 2014, he has built connections with far-right figures in the US and Europe, including the white nationalist Generation Identity movement.
Robinson was hired as an adviser to former Ukip leader Gerard Batten last year, calling on his supporters to join the party and attending political rallies, and then unsuccessfully ran as an independent member of the European Parliament for northwest England.
He had been due to go on a lucrative tour of Australia, which had been postponed several times, in October.
Ms Ebner said Robinson has maintained “huge reach” by finding new platforms and being publicised by high-profile supporters with large followings on Facebook and Twitter.
“People are trying to benefit from this case and from the traction Robinson has been able to get,” she added.
“Other social media influencers and far-right figures will continue campaigning for him and interviewing him to continue this ongoing campaign portraying him as a victim and martyr.”