Tommy Robinson has announced that he is joining Ben Habib’s Advance UK party, and is calling on his followers to do the same.
The move was announced in a video which Robinson posted yesterday. It was filmed in central London but shows signs of having been recorded before Robinson fled the country after an assault at St Pancras station last week.
It is filmed in Westminster, close to the spot where another video was filmed 28 July, just before the St Pancras incident, and he is wearing exactly the same clothes.
Reform dismissed
Dismissing Reform UK as a political option, Robinson – real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – says that Nigel Farage just wants to “make peace with Islam”.
Habib on the other hand is, he says, “loyal and principled. He’s stood up for free speech. He’s stood up for me at times”.
This is in contrast to Farage who accused him on television of having convictions for violence against women, infuriating Robinson.
Robinson says,
“I know some people will be upset by this, some Reform supporters, some Reform members.
“Unfortunately Nigel needs a shock. He needs to see there’s another political option other than Reform.
“And I see that as Ben Habib. I see that as Advance UK.
“I’m today joining Advance UK as a member”.
Link up
Robinson echoes the idea that he set out before he went to prison last year, that he needs to link his ‘cultural movement’ with a political party.
At the time he was looking towards UKIP. He said he was impressed with UKIP leader Nick Tenconi’s leadership, and looking forward to talks with him and UKIP Chairman Ben Walker about working together.
Before he could, however, he was sent to prison, but to further that deal, key Robinson supporters were co-opted onto the UKIP NEC while he was incarcerated.
In prison, however, Robinson went off the idea.
He was disappointed with UKIP leader Nick Tencon’s clownish street antics and his abject failure to make any real showing in recent elections.
And then an alternative came along in the shape of Advance UK when Ben Habib, Reform’s Deputy Leader, left in January citing issues over the party’s structure and the need for a harder line on immigration.
Best people
Like Robinson, he favours ‘mass deportations’, the favourite rallying cry of the far right at the moment but not supported by Farage.
Robinson’s latest move was presaged a month ago when Richard Inman, one of his key lieutenants, announced he was leaving UKIP, where he sat on the NEC, and joining Advance UK.
Rikki Doolan, another Robinson supporter on the UKIP NEC, had already quit, citing personal reasons.
A few days later, Robinson posted online that: “New Reform UK rival doesn’t split the vote – it offers completely different choice… Farage has sold everyone out already.
“I know who is around (Habib), the best people I’ve met in my time of activism”.
In his latest video, Robinson says that Habib can be the “populist leader who’s speaking for the people”.
“Our movement needs a political home and I’m sorry, it’s not Nigel Farage, it’s not Reform”.
Divided support
Support for Robinson has been a clear line of divide within Reform since its inception. Rupert Lowe, the former Reform MP, who also quit, has been clear about his backing for Robinson.
The move is likely to upset other far right groups, not least of all UKIP, who are likely to suffer a bleed of members a a result.
Robinson is still posting material online about his 13 September ‘Free Speech Festival’ but whether he decides to come out of hiding in Spain and honour his troops with his presence remains to be seen – as, of course, does Ben Habib’s reaction.
It may not be advisable to make a fugitive from a possibly serious criminal charge too welcome in his new party, and it is not known whether Robinson’s announcement was made with his knowledge or consent.
