Who is Tommy Robinson, the activist behind London anti-immigration rally?
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is seeking to consolidate Britain’s fragmented far-right by allying with Advance UK, a new political party launched by former Reform UK members.
September 14, 2025 02:58 PM IST
First published on: Sep 14, 2025 at 02:58 PM IST
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Tommy Robinson speaks during the Unite the Kingdom march and rally near Westminster, London. (AP photo)
At least 26 Metropolitan Police officers were injured during a rally led by far-right activist Tommy Robinson in central London, according to the BBC. The demonstration, billed as a “freedom of speech festival”, drew more than 110,000 people on Sept 13 (Saturday), and turned violent when some of Robinson’s supporters clashed with police trying to separate them from counter-protesters. Officers were punched, kicked and struck with bottles, prompting reinforcements in riot gear to be deployed.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is a far-right activist who has long been a controversial figure in British politics. Best known as the founder of the English Defence League (EDL), he built his base among football firms and street movements opposing immigration and Islam.
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According to The Guardian, the 42-year-old is now seeking to consolidate Britain’s fragmented far-right by allying with Advance UK, a new political party launched by former Reform UK members. He was released from prison earlier this year. He was jailed last October for ignoring an order not to repeat false claims about a Syrian refugee, who had successfully sued him for libel.
The Saturday rally
On Saturday, Robinson told supporters that politicians were “parroting” his ideas and claimed UK courts had decided the rights of undocumented migrants outweighed those of local communities. He used the rally to attack political leaders and portray himself as a defender of ordinary Britons.
The event also drew high-profile appearances: Elon Musk joined via videolink, calling for a “change of government” and warning about “massive uncontrolled migration”; TV presenter Katie Hopkins and actor Laurence Fox also appeared alongside Robinson.
Around 5,000 people attended a counter protest organised by Stand Up To Racism (SUTR). Independent MP Diane Abbott addressed the crowd, saying: “We know racism and violence and fascism is not new. But you know what? We have always defeated that racism and violence.”
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Tommy Robinson speaks during the Unite the Kingdom march and rally near Westminster, London. (AP photo) 
