The Board of Deputies has welcomed the jailing of English Defence League founder Tommy Robinson.
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, yesterday admitted to contempt of court after repeating false claims against a Syrian refugee and was sentenced to 18 months in jail for breaching a High Court order made in 2021.
According to ITV, lawyers for the Solicitor General claimed the 41-year-old had “undermined” the law, including by publishing a film called Silenced, which contains the libellous allegations against the refugee and which remains on Robinson’s social media accounts.
Barristers for Robinson claimed it was his “principles that have brought him before the court”.
Mr Justice Johnson, told Woolwich crown court on Monday: “All of his actions so far suggest that he regards himself as above the law” and added that Robinson’s actions had been “planned” and “deliberate”.
In a statement the Board said: “This past summer we saw how such lies can lead directly to hideous consequences on the streets of our country.”
They added that the verdict “sends a message to all that spreading falsehoods and hatred will not be tolerated in our country”.
The Board went on to commend the work of anti-racist group Hope not Hate, which they said had “led to this conviction” and continued: “We are, sadly. aware of many other in-progress cases which involve far-right, far-left and Islamist extremism. We urge continued efforts by the government, CPS and the police to tackle these threats to social cohesion and to our community’s safety and wellbeing”.
Solicitor General Sarah Sackman told the JC: “Those who breach court orders risk finding themselves in contempt of court. The sentence issued by the judge today confirms that no one should consider themselves above the rule of law.”
In November last year, Robinson was arrested for attempting to join a rally against antisemitism in central London after Jewish groups who organised it made clear that his presence would be unwelcome.