Tommy Robinson not welcome in Glasgow, says council leader (2024)

Published

1 August 2024

Glasgow City Council leader Susan Aitken has said far-right activist Tommy Robinson is not welcome in the city.

The English Defence League (EDL) founder, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, posted about a "pro-UK" rally in George Square next month.

He wrote "the British are rising" as he shared information about the "peaceful protest", to be held on 7 September.

More than 100 people have been arrested at several violent demonstrations in England in recent days following the Southport knife attack.

Ms Aitken posted on X: "Glasgow City Council has received no notification of any rally but then we know Tommy Robinson and his ilk don’t really care about respecting laws or public places.

"He’s not welcome in Glasgow and neither is anyone who chooses to align with his poisonous rhetoric."

Mr Yaxley-Lennon - an anti-Islamist activist who is the subject of an arrest warrant after leaving the country on the eve of a major legal case against him - shared a post that said the Glasgow event would coincide with several pro-UK rallies.

It said the rally would "share our distrust and fear of the future".

Pro-UK events are also being organised in other parts of Scotland.

Arrests were made earlier this week at demonstrations in Southport, Manchester, London and Hartlepool.

Dal Babu, former Chief Superintendent and firearms commander in the Met, has blamed the disorder on the "reckless" spread of misinformation about the identity of the suspect charged in the Southport stabbing.

Mr Yaxley-Lennon did not indicate if he intended to attend the Glasgow event.

Scotland's former first minister, Humza Yousaf, has called for the EDL to be proscribed under terrorism laws following the riot in Southport.

Merseyside Police said the rioters - who threw bricks at a mosque following a knife attack which killed three girls on Monday - was made up of EDL supporters.

In a letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, Mr Yousaf claimed "Britain has a far-right problem", urging her to use anti-terrorism powers to make membership of the group illegal.

"It is time we took on the English Defence League and the evil ideology that drives them," he wrote.

The former SNP leader added that such action would not provide an "overnight fix", but would demonstrate the UK government's intention to be "proactive in tackling far-right violence and terror that has been allowed to run rampant in the streets of the UK for far too long".

Mr Yaxley-Lennon has insisted that the EDL no longer exists.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar called for a "clamp down" on social media activity that he says is ramping up hatred and spreading disinformation in the wake of the Southport killings.

Mr Sarwar said the violence and disorder seen in the town and elsewhere was "unacceptable and reprehensible".

He told BBC Scotland News it was the responsibility of the UK government, police, security services and also social media companies.

Scottish Green co-leader and Glasgow MSP Patrick Harvie has written to other Holyrood parliamentarians from the city calling for a united response against the rally.

“The last few days have shown clearly the contempt the far right have for a grieving community, and they must not be allowed to continue to promote their toxic values unchallenged,” he said.

“I have no doubt that those of us who stand against them will far outnumber them if they do gather in Glasgow.”

Stand Up to Racism Scotland responded to Mr Yaxley-Lennon’s post by announcing it would also stage a demonstration in George Square on 7 September.

The group said it would be a “safely stewarded, family-friendly, demonstration open to all anti-racists and anti-fascists to stand in unity against those stirring up hate and division in our city”.

There is no requirement for groups to notify Glasgow City Council of rallies or static protests, as would be the case for a public procession.

However, groups seeking to stage an event at George Square would be expected to seek permission to use the space.

A Glasgow City Council spokesperson said: “No permission has been sought or granted.”

Mr Yaxley-Lennon had been due in court for allegedly breaching an order not to repeat lies about a Syrian refugee.

If he does not does not return, the case will be heard in his absence after 28 October - and could lead to a jail sentence.

He has been convicted of a string of offences previously, including assault, mortgage fraud, threatening behaviour and possession of drugs.

Related Topics