Podcast: Exploring the Rise of Britain’s Far Right with Tommy Robinson

Far-right figure Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, was scheduled to appear in court for making libellous claims about Syrian refugee Jamal Hijazi. Instead, he was in Cyprus when three girls were murdered in Southport, and he used social media to spread misinformation and Islamophobic rhetoric. As mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers were targeted in response, Yaxley-Lennon tried to distance himself from the violence. Yaxley-Lennon has been a prominent far-right figure for 20 years, representing a movement that has become less organised and more fragmented. Ben Quinn, a senior reporter for the Guardian, notes that individuals like Yaxley-Lennon are able to reach and influence young men, particularly through social media. The article highlights the dangerous influence of Yaxley-Lennon on the far-right movement and the need to address extremism online. Support for independent journalism is crucial in countering harmful narratives and promoting a more inclusive society.

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Photo credit www.theguardian.com