History of Tommy Robinson in Timeline
Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, known as Tommy Robinson, is a British far-right, anti-Islam activist. He co-founded and led the English Defence League (EDL) from 2009 to 2013. He is considered a prominent far-right figure in the UK.
2 hours ago : Sharon Osbourne's support for Tommy Robinson sparks controversy and charity backlash.
Sharon Osbourne faced backlash after supporting Tommy Robinson, leading Centrepoint to cut ties. Kneecap also criticized Osbourne. The controversy highlights the divisive nature of Robinson's views.
1972: Showed support for ex-British soldier facing prosecution for the murder of Irish civilians on Bloody Sunday
In 1972, Tommy Robinson showed support for an ex-British soldier facing prosecution for the murder of Irish civilians on Bloody Sunday by wearing a badge that said "I support soldiers A–Z" after "Soldier F" was set to face charges for the murder of civilians.
1981: Breach of Contempt of Court Act
In May 2018, Tommy Robinson breached a temporary section 4 (2) order under the Contempt of Court Act 1981. It was stated that if a retrial had to be held as a result of his actions the cost could be "hundreds and hundreds of thousands of pounds".
November 1982: Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon born
In November 1982, Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, later known as Tommy Robinson, was born. He is a British far-right, anti-Islam activist.
2000: Terrorism Act
In July 2024, Tommy Robinson was arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000.
2003: Qualified as aircraft engineer and lost job
In 2003, Tommy Robinson qualified as an aircraft engineer after five years of study, but lost his job when he was convicted of assaulting an off-duty police officer.
July 2004: Assault on police officer
In July 2004, Tommy Robinson assaulted an off-duty police constable who had intervened in an argument between Robinson and his girlfriend, Jenna Vowles. Robinson kicked the officer in the head as he lay on the ground.
2004: Joined British National Party
In 2004, Tommy Robinson became a member of the British National Party (BNP).
April 2005: Convicted of assault
In April 2005, at Luton Crown Court, Tommy Robinson was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault with intent to resist arrest. He received concurrent sentences of 12 months and 3 months.
July 2005: London Bombings
In October 2013 Tommy Robinson apologised for blaming "every single Muslim" for "getting away" with the 7 July 2005 London bombings.
2005: Left British National Party
In 2005, Tommy Robinson ceased being a member of the British National Party (BNP).
2005: Conviction for assault
In 2005, Tommy Robinson was convicted for assault and served a custodial sentence.
2005: Served Prison terms
Tommy Robinson has a history of criminal convictions, including for crimes such as assault, threats, harassment, and fraud, as well as contempt of court rulings relating to his documentaries, and has served five prison terms between 2005 and 2025.
March 2009: Involvement with United Peoples of Luton
In March 2009, Tommy Robinson was involved with the group United Peoples of Luton, formed in response to a protest against Royal Anglian Regiment troops returning from the Afghan War being attacked by Islamist groups Al-Muhajiroun and Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah.
2009: Co-founded English Defence League
In 2009, Tommy Robinson co-founded the English Defence League (EDL).
2009: Founded the English Defence League (EDL)
In 2009, Tommy Robinson founded the English Defence League (EDL) with his cousin Kevin Carroll, becoming its leader.
July 2010: Connection Uncovered by Searchlight Magazine
In July 2010, the connection between Tommy Robinson and the Luton Town MIGs, a football hooligan crew, was uncovered by Searchlight magazine, revealing his pseudonym and criminal history.
August 2010: Led group into brawl
On 24 August 2010, Tommy Robinson led a group of Luton Town F.C. supporters into a brawl involving 100 people in Luton.
2010: Owned a tanning salon in Luton
In 2010, Tommy Robinson owned a tanning salon in Luton.
April 2011: Assaulted a man in Blackburn
On 2 April 2011, Tommy Robinson headbutted a man in Blackburn.
July 2011: Convicted of using threatening behavior
In July 2011, at Luton and South Bedfordshire Magistrates' Court, Tommy Robinson was convicted of using threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour. He was sentenced to a 12-month community rehabilitation order, 150 hours of unpaid work, and given a three-year football banning order.
September 2011: Arrested for Breach of Bail Conditions
In September 2011, Tommy Robinson was arrested after an EDL demonstration in Tower Hamlets for breach of bail conditions. He began a hunger strike in HM Prison Bedford, and was later released on bail on 12 September.
September 2011: Convicted of assault for headbutting a man
In September 2011, at Preston Magistrates' Court, Tommy Robinson was convicted of assault for headbutting a man in Blackburn on 2 April 2011.
September 2011: Convicted of Common Assault
On 29 September 2011, Tommy Robinson was convicted of common assault after headbutting a fellow EDL member at a rally in Blackburn in April that year. He was sentenced to 12 weeks of imprisonment, suspended for 12 months.
November 2011: Received suspended jail term
In November 2011 Tommy Robinson was given a 12-week jail term, suspended for 12 months, for assault.
November 2011: Protested FIFA Ruling
On 8 November 2011, Tommy 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, and was fined £3,000 and jailed for three days.
December 2011: Robinson Reported Assault
On 22 December 2011, Tommy Robinson reported being assaulted by three men of Asian appearance after stopping his car; the motive for the attack was unclear.
2011: Married Jenna Vowles
In 2011, Tommy Robinson married Jenna Vowles after about 10 years together.
2011: Convicted of Using Threatening Behaviour
In 2011, Tommy Robinson was convicted of using 'threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour' during a fight between supporters of Luton Town and Newport County in Luton the previous year and was sentenced to a 12-month community rehabilitation order with 150 hours of unpaid work and a three-year ban from attending football matches.
2011: Electoral pact agreed between EDL and BFP
In 2011, an electoral pact was agreed between the EDL and the British Freedom Party (BFP).
April 2012: Participated in BBC Series The Big Questions
In April 2012, Tommy Robinson took part in the BBC series The Big Questions, which led to meetings with Mo Ansar and the BBC documentary When Tommy Met Mo.
October 2012: Arrested for entering the US illegally
In October 2012, Tommy Robinson was arrested and held on the charge of having entered the United States illegally.
October 2012: Resigned from British Freedom Party
On 11 October 2012, Tommy Robinson resigned from the British Freedom Party (BFP) to concentrate on EDL activities.
November 2012: Charged with conspiracy to commit fraud
In November 2012, Tommy Robinson was charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit fraud by misrepresentation in relation to a mortgage application, along with five other defendants.
2012: Joint vice-chairman of British Freedom Party
For a short time in 2012, Tommy Robinson was joint vice-chairman of the British Freedom Party (BFP).
2012: Conviction for using false travel documents
In 2012, Tommy Robinson was convicted for using false travel documents and served a custodial sentence.
January 2013: Sentenced to imprisonment for using false passport
In January 2013, Tommy Robinson was sentenced to 10 months' imprisonment at Southwark Crown Court for using a passport that did not belong to him.
February 2013: Released on electronic tag
On 22 February 2013, Tommy Robinson was released on an electronic tag after serving part of his sentence for using a false passport.
June 2013: Response to BNP membership question
In June 2013, when questioned by Andrew Neil, Tommy Robinson said that he had left the British National Party (BNP) after one year because he did not know Nick Griffin was in the National Front or that non-whites could not join the organisation.
October 2013: Left English Defence League
On 8 October 2013, Tommy Robinson announced he had left the English Defence League (EDL) due to concerns over far-right extremism. He apologised for blaming "every single Muslim" for "getting away" with the 7 July 2005 London bombings.
2013: Changed name
According to him, in 2013 he was born Stephen Yaxley in London and later adopted by his stepfather Thomas Lennon.
2013: Legendary Status in Counter-Jihad Movement
By 2013, Tommy Robinson was considered the "rock star" of the European Counter-Jihad Movement (ECJM).
2013: Served as leader of EDL until 2013
Tommy Robinson served as the leader of the English Defence League (EDL) until 2013.
January 2014: Sentenced to imprisonment for mortgage fraud
In January 2014, Tommy Robinson was sentenced to 18 months of imprisonment for mortgage fraud. He had pleaded guilty to two charges related to a £160,000 fraud.
June 2014: Released on licence
In June 2014 Tommy Robinson was released on licence with the terms of his early release included having no contact with the EDL until the end of his original sentence in June 2015.
October 2014: Recalled to prison
In October 2014, Tommy Robinson was recalled to prison for breaching the terms of his licence.
November 2014: Released from prison
On 14 November 2014, Tommy Robinson was released from prison.
2014: Conviction for mortgage fraud
In 2014, Tommy Robinson was convicted for mortgage fraud and served a custodial sentence.
June 2015: End of sentence
In June 2015 the terms of Tommy Robinson's early release ended.
July 2015: Regained freedom of speech
Tommy Robinson stated that he would regain his freedom of speech on 22 July 2015, after being released from prison licence.
October 2015: Addressed Pegida Anti-Islam Rally
In October 2015, Tommy Robinson addressed a Pegida anti-Islam rally, speaking out against the threat of Islamist terrorists posing as refugees.
December 2015: Announced Creation of Pegida British Chapter
In December 2015, Tommy Robinson announced the creation of a "British chapter" of Pegida, setting rules against alcohol and fighting.
2015: Involved with Pegida UK
In 2015, Tommy Robinson became involved with the development of Pegida UK, a British chapter of the German Pegida.
February 2016: Attacked After Leaving Nightclub
On 14 February 2016, Tommy Robinson was attacked and treated at a hospital after leaving a nightclub in Essex.
August 2016: Ejected From Pub In Cambridge
On 27 August 2016, Tommy Robinson and his family were ejected by police from a pub in Cambridge.
May 2017: Arrested for Contempt of Court
In May 2017, Tommy Robinson was arrested for contempt of court after attempting to film defendants in a rape trial outside Canterbury Crown Court.
May 2017: Charged and Convicted of Contempt of Court
In May 2017, Tommy Robinson was charged and convicted of contempt of court after filming inside Canterbury Crown Court and posting prejudicial statements about the defendants, who he called "Muslim child rapists", while the jury was deliberating. Judge Heather Norton stated that his actions could have derailed the trial and were not about free speech or legitimate journalism, but about ensuring justice and fairness.
June 2017: Involved in Fist Fight
Tommy Robinson was involved in a fist fight at Royal Ascot in June 2017, which led to criticism from Piers Morgan on Twitter.
2017: Wrote and appeared in videos on Rebel News
From 2017, Tommy Robinson wrote and appeared in videos on the Canadian website Rebel News.
2017: Funding from Robert J. Shillman and US Support
In 2017, Tommy Robinson received funding for his fellowship at Rebel News from Robert J. Shillman. He also received support from Steve Bannon, Sam Brownback, and Raheem Kassam.
2017: Links to Finsbury Park mosque terrorist attack revealed
In 2017, it was revealed that the perpetrator of the 2017 Finsbury Park mosque terrorist attack had subscribed to email updates from Tommy Robinson's website and read Robinson's tweets. A tweet mocking people for responding to terrorism with the phrase "don't look back in anger" was found at the scene. Emails from Robinson's account to the attacker were also discovered.
2017: Rising public profile since 2017
Since 2017, Tommy Robinson's public profile has risen due to substantial funding and assistance with media and networking from US tech billionaire Robert Shillman, the Middle East Forum, the David Horowitz Freedom Centre and the Gatestone Institute. These sources combine advocacy for Israel with encouragement for viewpoints and political movements in conflict with Muslims in Europe or North America.
March 2018: Attended court in support of Mark Meechan
In March 2018, Tommy Robinson attended court in support of Mark Meechan, a Scottish YouTuber, who was charged with a hate crime for posting a video of a dog performing Nazi salutes. Meechan was later found guilty.
March 2018: Permanent ban from Twitter
In March 2018, Tommy Robinson was permanently banned from Twitter for violating its rules on "hateful conduct".
May 2018: Arrested for Breach of Peace
In May 2018, Tommy Robinson was arrested for a breach of the peace while live streaming outside Leeds Crown Court during the trial of the Huddersfield grooming gang, which had reporting restrictions ordered by the judge. Following the arrest, Judge Geoffrey Marson QC issued a further reporting restriction on Robinson's case, prohibiting any reporting of it until the grooming trial was complete.
May 2018: Reporting Restriction Lifted, Jailed for Contempt
On 29 May 2018, the reporting restriction regarding Tommy Robinson was lifted. The media reported that Robinson admitted contempt of court for publishing information that could prejudice an ongoing trial and was jailed for 13 months. Judge Marson sentenced him to ten months for contempt, and his previous three-month suspended sentence was activated because of the breach. Robinson's lawyer said he felt "deep regret" after comprehending the potential consequences of his behavior.
July 2018: Lobbying Efforts and Financial Aid
In July 2018, Reuters reported that the United States Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Sam Brownback, lobbied the UK government on the treatment of Tommy Robinson. The Middle East Forum also lobbied the United States government and provided financial aid for rallies and legal aid, donating US$50,000 to his legal defense fund.
July 2018: Appeal Lodged
In July 2018, Tommy Robinson lodged an appeal initially against the proceedings at Leeds, and later against convictions both at Canterbury and Leeds. The Court of Appeal agreed to hear Robinson's appeal out of time because Robinson had been held in "effective solitary confinement", which had made it difficult for him to have meetings with his lawyers. The matter came before the Lord Chief Justice and two others at the Court of Appeal on 18 July 2018.
August 2018: Appeal Ruling
On 1 August 2018, the Court of Appeal issued its ruling on Tommy Robinson's appeal. The appeal against the Canterbury proceedings failed, but the appeal against the Leeds proceedings succeeded.
August 2018: Interview on Tucker Carlson Tonight
On 2 August 2018, Tommy Robinson was interviewed on Tucker Carlson Tonight, where he discussed his two months in prison. He claimed he was mistreated at HM Prison Onley and put in 'solitary confinement', which HM Prison Service rejected.
September 2018: Expressed desire to join UKIP
In September 2018, Tommy Robinson expressed a desire to join the UK Independence Party (UKIP).
October 2018: Invitation to Speak in US
In October 2018, Republican Party politician Paul Gosar and six other members of the US Congress invited Tommy Robinson to speak at a private meeting on 14 November 2018. The trip was to be sponsored by the Middle East Forum, which said it had provided Robinson with legal funds since his imprisonment. However, Robinson was not granted a visa for the trip.
October 2018: Posted photo with British Army 'recruits'
In October 2018, Tommy Robinson posted a photo with British Army "recruits" and a video in which they allegedly cheered him. This led to an investigation by the British Army, who stated that far-right ideology is against their values.
October 2018: False Accusations Against Syrian Refugee Boy
In October 2018, after a Syrian refugee boy was assaulted in a school bullying incident, Tommy Robinson falsely accused the victim of having previously attacked two schoolgirls.
November 2018: PayPal ends processing payments
In November 2018, PayPal told Tommy Robinson that it would no longer process payments on his behalf, citing that the service cannot be used to promote hate, violence, or other forms of intolerance.
November 2018: Appointed as "grooming gang advisor" to UKIP
In November 2018, Tommy Robinson was appointed as a "grooming gang advisor" to UKIP under Gerard Batten.
November 2018: Visa Denial
In November 2018, Tommy Robinson was denied a visa for a trip to the US, where he had been invited to speak at a private meeting sponsored by the Middle East Forum.
November 2018: Appointed as advisor to UKIP leader
In November 2018, UKIP leader Gerard Batten appointed Tommy Robinson as his advisor. This led to criticism from former leader Nigel Farage, who described Robinson as a "thug."
2018: Donations and support from Middle East Forum
In 2018, Tommy Robinson received £2 million in donations and support from the Middle East Forum (MEF), which funded rallies and legal costs for his appeal. The MEF spent $60,000 on legal fees and demonstrations, and flew Republican Congressman Paul Gosar to London for a rally.
2018: Political advisor to Gerard Batten
In 2018, Tommy Robinson served as a political advisor to Gerard Batten, then the leader of the UK Independence Party (UKIP).
2018: Imprisonment and Release
In 2018, Tommy Robinson's suspended prison sentence was activated due to another contempt of court finding in Leeds. He was later released after a successful challenge to the court's sentencing procedure, and a rehearing was ordered. The contempt of court offense related to speeches or publications that could create a substantial risk of impeding or prejudicing the course of justice.
2018: US President Trump's ambassador raised imprisonment issue with the British government
In 2018, US President Trump's ambassador for international religious freedom, former Senator Sam Brownback, raised the issue of Tommy Robinson's imprisonment with the British government, and Trump's son Donald Trump Jr. tweeted in support of Robinson.
January 2019: Caused lockdown by surrounding library during MP surgery
In January 2019, Tommy Robinson livestreamed himself leading a group that surrounded a library where Stewart McDonald, an MP, was holding a 'surgery', causing a lockdown. The group reportedly blocked emergency exits, and McDonald was escorted away by police.
January 2019: YouTube removes adverts
In January 2019, YouTube announced that it had removed adverts from Tommy Robinson's account, saying that he had breached the site's guidelines.
January 2019: Refugee Boy Living in Fear
In January 2019, the Syrian refugee boy said returning to Almondbury Community School was still too dangerous. He described living in fear after Tommy Robinson's postings because "there are people who hang around outside my house and video me on their phones. They call me 'little rat' if I go outside. One of my neighbours threatened me outside my house just yesterday."
February 2019: Banned from Facebook and Instagram
In February 2019, Facebook and Instagram banned Tommy Robinson from their platforms, citing violations of their hate-speech rules, including "calls for violence targeted at Muslims". Facebook subsequently placed him on its list of "Dangerous Individuals".
February 2019: Posted controversial statement on Facebook regarding rape victims
In February 2019, Tommy Robinson posted a controversial statement on his Facebook account next to a Rape Crisis flyer, resulting in racist and abusive phone calls to the center. The center condemned his post for disrupting their service provision for sexual violence victims.
February 2019: Held rally outside BBC offices to protest Panorama
On 23 February 2019, Tommy Robinson held a rally in MediaCityUK outside the BBC's Salford offices to protest against the BBC's Panorama program. During the rally Robinson launched his film Panodrama that was broadcast on a large screen to the crowd, and called for the BBC licence fee to be scrapped.
February 2019: Banned From Facebook
On 26 February 2019, Facebook announced that it had banned Tommy Robinson from the service for violating its community standards and "posting material that uses dehumanizing language and calls for violence targeted at Muslims".
March 2019: Court Rejected Harassment Claims
In March 2019, Peterborough County Court rejected Tommy Robinson's claims of harassment against Cambridgeshire Constabulary and ordered him to pay £20,000 towards costs.
March 2019: Attempted to intimidate journalist at their home
In March 2019, Tommy Robinson arrived uninvited outside the home of a journalist who covers far-right issues and attempted to intimidate them, revealing their address on a livestream and threatening to reveal other journalists' addresses. He left after police arrived.
March 2019: Further Contempt Proceedings
In March 2019, the attorney general decided to bring further contempt proceedings against Tommy Robinson. This followed a quashed conviction by the Court of Appeal in August 2018 and a referral from the Recorder of London in October 2018. Robinson reacted by alleging this was state persecution.
April 2019: YouTube restricts account
In April 2019, YouTube restricted Tommy Robinson's account due to its "borderline content", placing its content "behind an interstitial [warning page], removed from recommendations, and stripped of key features including livestreaming, comments, suggested videos, and likes".
April 2019: Announced candidacy for European Parliament election
On 25 April 2019, Tommy Robinson announced that he would be an independent candidate at the 2019 European Parliament election in North West England.
May 2019: Robinson Admits to Posting Fake News, Sued for Defamation
In May 2019, after receiving a letter from lawyers representing the refugee boy's family, pointing out that the videos Tommy Robinson had posted "contain a number of false and defamatory allegations", Robinson admitted to his followers that it was fake news and said that he had been duped. On 15 May 2019, the boy's lawyer said that his client was suing Robinson for "defamatory comments" Robinson had made.
July 2019: Jailed for Nine Months
On 11 July 2019, Tommy Robinson was jailed for nine months at the Old Bailey. He described the sentence as an "absolute joke" and called for protests. Outside the court, supporters protested, leading to some violence.
July 2019: Guilty of Contempt of Court at Retrial
On 5 July 2019, Tommy Robinson was again found guilty of contempt of court at the retrial on three different grounds, including breaching the reporting restriction.
September 2019: Released From Prison
On 13 September 2019, Tommy Robinson was released from prison after serving nine weeks. He later said he had spoken to Julian Assange in prison and announced his support for him.
2019: Endorsed Boris Johnson for prime minister
Prior to the 2019 United Kingdom general election, Tommy Robinson endorsed Conservative Party leader Boris Johnson as prime minister.
January 2020: Received Sappho Award in Copenhagen
In January 2020, Tommy Robinson received the Sappho Award from the Danish Free Press Society at Christiansborg Palace in Copenhagen. The organization is associated with the counterjihad movement.
February 2020: Travelled to Russia for talks and media appearances
In February 2020, Tommy Robinson travelled to Russia, visiting Moscow and Saint Petersburg for talks, meetings, and media appearances. Russian state media portrayed him as a victim of censorship. The New York Times alleged he sought Russian bank accounts to hide money.
February 2020: Launched far-right organisation Hearts of Oak
In February 2020, Tommy Robinson, along with Carl Benjamin and other former UKIP members, launched the far-right organisation Hearts of Oak, describing it as a "cultural movement" focused on issues like immigration and freedom of speech.
April 2020: Banned from TikTok
In April 2020, Tommy Robinson was banned from TikTok for sharing content that "promote[s] hateful ideology". Following the ban, Robinson joined VK, a Russian social media platform.
August 2020: Speech displayed at protest demanding deportation of Rochdale sex abuse ring members
In August 2020, Tommy Robinson's pre-recorded speech was displayed at a protest demanding the deportation of the men involved in the Rochdale child sex abuse ring. Other speakers made controversial statements. Antifascist counter-protestors accused Hearts of Oak of Islamophobia, racism, and nationalism.
November 2020: Arrested for breaking COVID-19 lockdown rules
On 1 November 2020, Tommy Robinson was arrested at Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park, London, for breaking COVID-19 lockdown rules.
2020: Visited Barrow-in-Furness following Eleanor Williams case
In 2020, Tommy Robinson visited Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, after protests in support of Eleanor Williams, who was accused of lying about being raped by a grooming gang, despite her family asking him to stay away.
January 2021: Went to the home of journalist Lizzie Dearden
In January 2021, Tommy Robinson went to the home of the journalist Lizzie Dearden after she had asked for his comment for a story she was writing about allegations that he had misused financial donations from his supporters. He falsely accused her partner of being a paedophile and threatened to return every night.
February 2021: Divorced Jenna Vowles
In February 2021, Tommy Robinson divorced Jenna Vowles.
March 2021: Robinson declared bankruptcy
In March 2021, Tommy Robinson declared bankruptcy.
March 2021: Bankruptcy filing
In March 2021, Tommy Robinson filed for bankruptcy, using the name Stephen Christopher Lennon, after incurring an estimated £1.6 million in costs following a libel trial. The official receiver was searching for concealed assets.
March 2021: Issued with interim stalking ban order
On 19 March 2021 Tommy Robinson was issued with an interim stalking ban order.
July 2021: Found Liable for Libel
On 22 July 2021, Tommy Robinson was found to have libelled the Syrian refugee boy and was ordered to pay £100,000 plus legal costs, which were understood to amount to a further £500,000. An injunction was also granted to stop Robinson from repeating the libel.
October 2021: Convicted of stalking
On 13 October 2021, Tommy Robinson was convicted at Westminster Magistrates' Court of stalking a couple, and was given a five-year ban from contacting them or referring to them.
2021: Silenced trailer release on InfoWars
In 2021, a trailer for the first cut of Tommy Robinson's film "Silenced", which was financed by InfoWars, was released on InfoWars.
2021: Reported donations and sponsorship
It was reported in 2021 that Tommy Robinson had received over £2 million in donations and sponsorship.
January 2022: Insolvency Expert Appointed
In January 2022 an independent insolvency expert was appointed by Tommy Robinson's creditors (who, including the schoolboy and the boy's lawyers, were owed an estimated £1.5 million in legal costs) to find any assets or money that Robinson could be hiding.
January 2022: Held protest and screened documentary about Muslim grooming gangs
In January 2022, Tommy Robinson held a protest and screened his documentary, The Rape of Britain: Survivor Stories, about Muslim grooming gangs, in response to the Telford child sexual exploitation scandal.
January 2022: Appointment of insolvency expert
In January 2022, people owed money by Tommy Robinson appointed an independent insolvency expert to recover their money before the deadline for claims in March 2022.
March 2022: Endorsed For Britain party
In March 2022, Tommy Robinson began to endorse For Britain, and encouraged his supporters to join the party to "build a political force".
March 2022: Deadline for claims
In March 2022, there was a deadline for claims to recover money owed by Tommy Robinson to various parties, including a libelled schoolboy, HM Revenue and Customs, and a former business partner.
June 2022: Robinson lost £100,000 in gambling
In June 2022, Tommy Robinson stated that he lost £100,000 in gambling.
June 2022: High Court statement on gambling and debt
In June 2022, at the High Court in London, Tommy Robinson said that he spent £100,000 on gambling and had suffered a "total mental breakdown" before declaring bankruptcy. He also said he owed an estimated £160,000 to HMRC.
August 2022: Fine for failing to appear at High Court
On August 1, 2022, Tommy Robinson was fined £900 for failing to appear at the High Court to answer questions over his finances and was ordered to pay £20,000 in costs.
September 2022: Hearts of Oak attended Standing for Women rally
In September 2022, Hearts of Oak attended and live-streamed a public rally in Brighton organized by Standing for Women.
November 2022: Acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk
In November 2022, Twitter was acquired by Elon Musk, which later led to the reinstatement of Tommy Robinson's Twitter account in November 2023.
2022: Spread pro-Russian disinformation about the war in Ukraine
Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Tommy Robinson spread pro-Russian disinformation about the war.
April 2023: Silenced launched in Copenhagen
In April 2023, the MICE Media version of Tommy Robinson's film "Silenced" was launched in Copenhagen at an event hosted by the Danish People's Party and the Danish Free Press Society. Robinson was welcomed by DPP leader Morten Messerschmidt.
October 2023: Lost appeal against stalking ban order
On 19 October 2023 Tommy Robinson lost his appeal against the stalking ban order, having admitted that the allegations he made about Dearden's partner were false.
November 2023: Twitter account reinstated
In November 2023, Tommy Robinson's Twitter account was reinstated following the acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk in November 2022.
July 2024: Refused to provide mobile phone PIN to police
On 28 July 2024, Tommy Robinson refused to provide his mobile phone login PIN when requested by police in Folkestone, leading to a terror-related charge.
July 2024: Arrest at Channel Tunnel
On July 28, 2024, Tommy Robinson was arrested by Kent Police at the Channel Tunnel in Folkestone under the Terrorism Act 2000 for frustration of a schedule 7 examination, following his Unite the Kingdom protest at Trafalgar Square. He was released on bail, and an arrest warrant was issued after he left the country.
August 2024: Harassment of Daily Mail journalists
In August 2024 Tommy Robinson was charged with harassment causing fear of violence against two Daily Mail journalists.
August 2024: Report on debts and secretive companies
In August 2024, The Times reported that Tommy Robinson owed around £2 million to his creditors and had created "a web of secretive companies" which made profits of over £1.6 million without paying tax. The directors of these entities failed to file any annual accounts, and one company owed £328,000 in corporation tax and employer contributions to HMRC.
August 2024: Robinson owed creditors £2 million
In August 2024, The Times reported that Tommy Robinson owed in the region of £2 million to his creditors and was the subject of a HMRC investigation over unpaid taxes.
August 2024: Controversy over Richard Everitt murder claims on X
In August 2024, on the 30th anniversary of Richard Everitt's murder, Tommy Robinson falsely claimed on X that three defendants were 'convicted' of the crime. After being notified of the error, he reposted the original screen. Lawyers reported the post, and it was removed on September 6.
August 2024: Investigation for allegedly inciting riots
In August 2024, prosecutors in the UK began to investigate Tommy Robinson for his alleged role in inciting the riots following the Southport stabbing.
August 2024: Irish passport investigation requested
In August 2024, three Irish Teachtaí Dála asked the Irish government to investigate the validity of Tommy Robinson's Irish passport, after it emerged he had given his place of birth as "Ireland".
October 2024: Robinson admits contempt of court
In October 2024, Tommy Robinson handed himself in to Folkestone police station and was held in custody before a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court. At the hearing on October 28, Robinson admitted contempt of court by repeating false allegations about a Syrian refugee and was sentenced to 18 months in prison, with a significant costs order. The judge stated that Robinson showed no remorse and regarded himself as above the law.
November 2024: Relocation to HM Prison Woodhill
In November 2024, Tommy Robinson entered a closed wing at HM Prison Woodhill to protect him from attacks by other prisoners, after initially being held at HM Prison Belmarsh and relocated due to abusive and racist emails, including threats directed at the governor.
November 2024: Appeared in court on terror-related offence
On 13 November 2024, Tommy Robinson appeared in court charged with a terror-related offence after refusing to provide his mobile phone login PIN when requested by police in Folkestone on 28 July 2024.
2024: InfoWars bankruptcy filing
In 2024, InfoWars, a website owned by Alex Jones known for publishing conspiracy theories and fake news, filed for bankruptcy.
January 2025: Deadline for payment of costs order
In January 2025, following his sentencing for contempt of court, Judge Jeremy Johnson ordered Tommy Robinson to pay £50,000 by 4pm on January 7.
January 2025: Elon Musk supports Tommy Robinson on Twitter
On January 1, 2025, Twitter owner Elon Musk retweeted the full film by Tommy Robinson, saying it was "Worth watching". On January 2, Musk tweeted "Free Tommy Robinson!" and later questioned why Robinson was in solitary confinement for telling the truth. On January 7, Robinson released a podcast praising Musk, leading HM Prison Service to investigate how the podcast was recorded from his prison cell.
January 2025: Musk pins "Free Tommy Robinson" message
On January 2, 2025, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), Elon Musk, pinned the message "Free Tommy Robinson" to the top of his own X-feed.
March 2025: Robinson challenges prison segregation
In March 2025, Tommy Robinson challenged the Ministry of Justice's decision to segregate him from other prisoners at HM Prison Woodhill, claiming he was "terrified of the long-term consequences of the continued solitary confinement". The Ministry stated that the segregation was for his protection due to threats from other prisoners and that his isolation was "substantially more permissive".
March 2025: Trial initially expected
In March 2025, a trial was initially expected for Tommy Robinson charged with a terror-related offence.
March 2025: Claim dismissed in segregation case
On March 21, 2025, Mr. Justice Chamberlain dismissed Tommy Robinson's claim regarding his segregation in prison, finding that the decision had been taken for Robinson's own protection and to preserve the safety of other prisoners and staff.
April 2025: Appeal against prison sentence lost
In April 2025, Tommy Robinson lost an appeal against his 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court, with the Court of Appeal dismissing arguments about the impact of his prison segregation on his mental health.
May 2025: Early release from prison
In May 2025, the High Court reduced Tommy Robinson's prison sentence by four months, and he was released from HM Prison Woodhill on May 27, 2025.
May 2025: Charged with harassment
On 21 May 2025, Tommy Robinson was charged with harassment causing fear of violence against two Daily Mail journalists in August 2024.
June 2025: Appeared in court on harassment charges
On 5 June 2025, Tommy Robinson appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court, elected for a trial by jury, and was released on bail ahead of a pre-trial hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 3 July 2025.
July 2025: Entered not guilty pleas
In July 2025, at the hearing, Tommy Robinson entered not guilty pleas to harassment charges.
July 2025: Expected release on licence
Tommy Robinson was initially expected to be released on licence in July 2025 following his prison sentence for contempt of court.
August 2025: Shared video and falsely accused family of paedophilia
In August 2025, Tommy Robinson shared a video on Twitter of a black man and his brother playing with his white granddaughters, falsely accusing them of paedophilia, leading to racial abuse and false accusations against the family.
August 2025: Joined Advance UK
On 3 August 2025, Tommy Robinson posted a video on his X account, announcing that he had joined Advance UK. The party was set up by Ben Habib, who had previously been a co-deputy leader of Reform UK.
September 2025: Organized 'Unite the Kingdom' rally in London
In September 2025, Tommy Robinson organized a 'Unite the Kingdom' rally in central London, which was attended by over 110,000 people. A counter-protest also took place, and violence resulted in injuries and arrests. Additionally, Labi Siffre issued a cease and desist order against Robinson for using his song "(Something Inside) So Strong" at the rally.
October 2025: Travel to Israel and address at Tel Aviv International Salon
In October 2025, Tommy Robinson traveled to Israel as a guest of Amichai Chikli, addressing hundreds at the Tel Aviv International Salon, where he denounced Britain's recognition of a Palestinian state. His visit, funded by the Israeli government, included visits to Israel's parliament, a West Bank settlement, and the Gaza border.
October 2025: Metropolitan Police officers suspended for allegedly supporting anti-Muslim stance
In October 2025, some Metropolitan Police officers were suspended for allegedly supporting Tommy Robinson's anti-Muslim stance.
October 2025: Trial for terror-related offence opened
On 13 October 2025, the trial for Tommy Robinson, charged with a terror-related offence, opened. After a two-day hearing, it closed on 14 October.
November 2025: Cleared of terror-related offence
On 4 November 2025, Tommy Robinson was cleared of a terror-related offence. The judge ruled that Robinson was stopped unlawfully.
December 2025: Organised 'Unite the Kingdom' Christmas service
On 13 December 2025, Tommy Robinson, organised a 'Unite the Kingdom' Christmas service attended by around 1,000 people.
2025: Served Prison terms
Tommy Robinson has a history of criminal convictions, including for crimes such as assault, threats, harassment, and fraud, as well as contempt of court rulings relating to his documentaries, and has served five prison terms between 2005 and 2025.
January 2026: Met with Matteo Salvini
In January 2026, Tommy Robinson met Italian far-right politician and Deputy Prime Minister of Italy Matteo Salvini.
January 2026: Endorsed Matt Goodwin for the Gorton and Denton by-election
On 30 January 2026, Tommy Robinson endorsed Reform's Matt Goodwin for the 2026 Gorton and Denton by-election. Goodwin refused to welcome the endorsement.
February 2026: Reported to have left the UK following alleged threats
In February 2026, Tommy Robinson was reported to have left the UK due to alleged threats from an Islamic State publication. He travelled to Washington, D.C., and met with Joe Rittenhouse and Randy Fine.
October 2026: Trial scheduled for harassment charges
In October 2026, Tommy Robinson's trial is scheduled for harassment charges.
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