The patriotism of Stephen ‘coke in the sun’ Yaxley-Lennon

NOTE: This article was published on 13 September 2024“That thing that we believe in is our country, it’s our flag, it’s our community, it’s our children, it’s everyone around us…” That’s the latest video message from Stephen Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson) posted from goodness knows where in mainland Europe. It would all be a touch…

NOTE: This article was published on 13 September 2024

“That thing that we believe in is our country, it’s our flag, it’s our community, it’s our children, it’s everyone around us…”

That’s the latest video message from Stephen Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson) posted from goodness knows where in mainland Europe. It would all be a touch more convincing if ’Tommy’ actually lived here, wouldn’t it? Rather than occasionally dropping in for a flying visit from his voluntary exile in sunny Costa Del Trotta, then fleeing to Ayia Napa and Athens.

Mind you, that’s assuming that it’s Britain that he means when he talks of our country, our flag, our community. Considering he flits in and out of Spain, Cyprus, Greece and apparently even Canada on his iffy Eire passport, one might reasonably assume that the flag he’s most attached to is the Irish tricolour, and the community that of Ballyburberry.

Still, at least he appears more or less sober for a change. ”I ’ad a little wobble a few weeks back,” he admits, though it seems a half-hearted confession to say the least. A few weeks? It’s not much more than 24 hours since he posted a video of himself kited up in full Marty-Feldman-eyes mode, daring the government to jail him.

We’re not sure why he even bothers to self-video any more. He might as well just post a link to any of dozens of YouTube clips of cats with cerebellar hypoplasia.

No one would notice the difference.

Picture: Tommy, cleaning his coke mirror


Nick Davies

Nick Davies

To investigate fascists takes real courage and unusual commitment. The government, police, mainstream media occasionally take a look, but in the UK only Searchlight have kept at it, relentlessly and admirably, regardless of threat or obstacle. It’s journalism that matters. A rare thing.

Nick Davies
Multi-award-winning investigative journalist and writer

Peter Hain

Peter Hain, founder of the ANL and friend of Searchlight

British Jews have been persecuted over the centuries; British blacks since the Windrush generation of the 1950s; British Muslims, especially after the Islamist 9/11 and then 7/7 terrorist attacks in New York 2001 and London 2005. But until the last few years there has not been a simultaneous threat against all three British communities of Jewish, Black and Muslim Britons – meaning the need for Searchlight has never been greater.

Peter Hain
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minster

Paul Holborow

Paul Holborow

In the campaign against the National Front, Searchlight provided a rich and utterly reliable basis for much ANL propaganda – particularly with reference to the two leading NF figures, John Tyndall and Martin Webster. The appearance of Tyndall in full nazi uniform, drawn from the archives of Searchlight, was a key part of ANL propaganda, coupled with deeply damaging nazi quotes from Webster.

Paul Holborow
Founding member of the ANL and National Organiser 1977-81

Alf Dubs

Lord Alf Dubs

Searchlight’s voice is more important than ever, and I am delighted that it will now be available to a wider audience than ever before in its new incarnation online. Searchlight has been extremely helpful over the years in exposing the far right, corruption, criminality and the murky links between organised crime and powerful interests in the UK and abroad. I wish Searchlight the very best.

Alf Dubs
Labour peer, former MP and Cabinet Minister, and Kindertransport child

Paul Nowak

Paul Nowak

The essence of trade unionism is solidarity, fairness and equality – for all workers – from all backgrounds. That’s why our fight against the far-right has always been part of our movement’s DNA. Searchlight is an incredibly important resource for trade unions and members to understand the contemporary tactics of far-right activity. Their work and intelligence gathering over the years have been incredibly insightful for the work we do, and how we fight the scourge of fascism.

Paul Nowak
TUC General Secretary

Professor Colin Holmes

Professor Colin Holmes
Everyone who wants to understand contemporary racism and its historical background needs to read Searchlight.
Professor Colin Holmes
University of Sheffield

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