Tommy Robinson arrives at Downing Street with 200,000-strong petition ‘opposing political witch hunt against the Armed Forces’ – 24 hours after ex-EDL leader’s bail conditions are lifted
- Robinson met a group of soldiers at Watford Gap services on the M1 last month
- One was allegedly discharged after pictures and videos emerged of meeting
- But EDL founder said soldier had since started training again with the Army
- Today Robinson presented petition to ‘prevent political targeting of young lad’
Tommy Robinson today presented a petition to Downing Street with nearly 200,000 signatures opposing a ‘political witch hunt’ against the Armed Forces.
The English Defence League founder, who was formally released from bail yesterday, met a group of soldiers in camouflage at Watford Gap services on the M1 last month.
One of the soldiers was allegedly discharged after pictures and videos emerged of the meeting, but Robinson said he had since started training again with the Army.
Today, Robinson, 35, visited Downing Street to present the petition of people who he said had joined together to ‘prevent the political targeting of this young lad’.
Tommy Robinson (left) poses outside 10 Downing Street in London this afternoon with MEP Janice Atkinson and blind Army veteran Alun Elder-Brown as he hands in a petition
Robinson takes a selfie outside Downing Street today as he delivers the petition to politicians
He was joined by Janice Atkinson, independent MEP for South East England, who has previously championed his cause, and blind Army veteran Alun Elder-Brown.
Before going through the security gates of Prime Minister Theresa May’s address in London this afternoon, Robinson said in a video: ‘So, we are at Downing Street.
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‘We are here to deliver a petition of just under 200,000 people who signed to prevent a political witch hunt against members of our Armed Forces who I met at a service station. They had their photograph taken with me.
‘Now the news reported one of those men has been discharged. We’re here today to celebrate the fact that that young man is training again for our Armed Forces.
Robinson visited Downing Street to present the petition of people who he said had joined together to ‘prevent the political targeting of this young lad’
The English Defence League founder visited Downing Street to present the petition today
‘So we put solicitors in contact with six soldiers. It seems that they’re not being discharged now. That has come about due to a movement of people, political pressure – huge pressure by the public.
What does the petition from Robinson say?
‘We do not want our lads investigated for taking a photo with Tommy Robinson.
‘We demand that General Sir Nick Carter call off his political witch-hunt against our troops, prepared to fight for our freedom’
‘This here holds 200,000 names. Those people were ready and willing to take part in whatever needed to be done to prevent the political targeting of this young lad.
‘I’m going to go in and hand it in, but I’ll see you when I come back out.’
Earlier this month a senior Army officer said it ‘absolutely does not tolerate extremist views’ as top brass investigated the pictures of the soldiers and Robinson.
The former English Defence League shared the image from the services and posted a video which saw the soldiers start to cheer and shout his name.
Last month, Robinson posted a picture of himself online with the young army personnel in camouflage fatigues – after meeting them at the Watford Gap M1 service station
But Major General Rupert Jones, the soon-to-be Standing Joint Force Commander, said he was ‘confident’ extremist views are not prevalent in the forces.
The Army said at the time that it was aware of the photograph and footage and was ‘investigating the circumstances surrounding this’.
The Muslim Council of Britain added that Robinson ‘does not represent our Armed Forces, however much he tries to claim otherwise’.
His visit today comes after he was formally released from bail yesterday following his high-profile contempt of court case being referred to the Attorney General.
Earlier today, Robinson spoke to an anti-Brexit demonstrator outside the Houses of Parliament
Robinson laughed as he spoke to the demonstrator before delivering the petition nearby today
Robinson was freed from prison in August after three leading judges quashed a contempt of court finding made at Leeds Crown Court.
But he could be sent back to jail if he is again found in contempt for filming people in a Huddersfield grooming trial in Leeds and broadcasting the footage online.
The court heard that he denied breaching the Contempt of Court Act and making a broadcast likely to seriously prejudice the trial.
The announcement follows reports that Robinson could make more than £1million from a potential trip to the US later this month.
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