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| Tommy Robinson announces plans to stand as MEP | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Faith leaders and politicians from across Manchester have united to condemn the anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson, who has announced plans to stand as an MEP in the European elections. | |
| Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, is holding an event in Wythenshawe, south Manchester, later on Thursday at which he is expected to address supporters on his first foray into frontline politics next month. | |
| The English Defence League founder has submitted all necessary documentation and paid the £5,000 deposit to be a candidate in the elections for the north-west of England on 23 May. | |
| He is expected to be joined in Manchester by Anne Marie Waters, the leader of the far-right For Britain party, who has described Islam as “evil” and promised to ban the burqa if elected. | He is expected to be joined in Manchester by Anne Marie Waters, the leader of the far-right For Britain party, who has described Islam as “evil” and promised to ban the burqa if elected. |
| The event has been met with near-universal condemnation in Manchester. Mike Kane, the Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, said Robinson’s “far-right political views are not welcome in our town and our great city”, in a joint letter signed by Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith leaders. | The event has been met with near-universal condemnation in Manchester. Mike Kane, the Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, said Robinson’s “far-right political views are not welcome in our town and our great city”, in a joint letter signed by Christian, Jewish and Muslim faith leaders. |
| Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, has organised an event in Wythenshawe. Together with leaders from across our community I would like to share this statement. Yaxley-Lennon’s far-right political views are not welcome in our town and our great city. pic.twitter.com/fFmalxQX0Q | Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, has organised an event in Wythenshawe. Together with leaders from across our community I would like to share this statement. Yaxley-Lennon’s far-right political views are not welcome in our town and our great city. pic.twitter.com/fFmalxQX0Q |
| The letter said: “We want to make this statement about Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson. Together, on behalf of our community, we felt it necessary to speak out against his visit. We are firm in our belief that violence and racism have no place in our political discourse. | The letter said: “We want to make this statement about Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson. Together, on behalf of our community, we felt it necessary to speak out against his visit. We are firm in our belief that violence and racism have no place in our political discourse. |
| “Wythenshawe is a proud community. It is our community. It is a community that rejects hate and works tirelessly for the common good. A community with a bright future.” | “Wythenshawe is a proud community. It is our community. It is a community that rejects hate and works tirelessly for the common good. A community with a bright future.” |
| The statement said Wythenshawe had a long history of welcoming people from around the world and that “if we were to welcome this man, we’d be dismissing the valued contribution these people have made to the area”. | The statement said Wythenshawe had a long history of welcoming people from around the world and that “if we were to welcome this man, we’d be dismissing the valued contribution these people have made to the area”. |
| It continued: “As community leaders, we call upon our communities to reject the politics of division and hate.” | It continued: “As community leaders, we call upon our communities to reject the politics of division and hate.” |
| Local Labour party councillors said they were “horrified” by Robinson’s presence in the area and had been contacted by many concerned residents. “We condemn his disruptive presence here tonight and and believe there is no place for hate and division in our community,” they said. | Local Labour party councillors said they were “horrified” by Robinson’s presence in the area and had been contacted by many concerned residents. “We condemn his disruptive presence here tonight and and believe there is no place for hate and division in our community,” they said. |
| The event has been billed as a family-friendly barbecue, with supporters directed to a small public green opposite a Methodist church. | The event has been billed as a family-friendly barbecue, with supporters directed to a small public green opposite a Methodist church. |
| However, the owner of the land, Wythenshawe community housing group, said it had “explicitly declined” its use for the event and Robinson had been told by the police he had no permission to hold his event there. | |
| Despite the opposition, Robinson shared a picture of a van with a large-screen TV alongside the words “Tommy Robinson here tonight 8pm” in a message to his more than 30,000 followers on the app Telegram on Monday afternoon. | |
| The event is due to take place opposite Brownley Green Methodist church, where the Rev Dave Warnock has also come out in opposition to Robinson. | The event is due to take place opposite Brownley Green Methodist church, where the Rev Dave Warnock has also come out in opposition to Robinson. |
| Warnock led a prayer walk at 2pm on Thursday to pray “for the safety and peace of everyone in our community”. He had also bought supplies of pasta, bread and chocolate cake to provide food and a safe place “for those who don’t feel safe in their homes this evening”. | Warnock led a prayer walk at 2pm on Thursday to pray “for the safety and peace of everyone in our community”. He had also bought supplies of pasta, bread and chocolate cake to provide food and a safe place “for those who don’t feel safe in their homes this evening”. |
| The church said: “The Methodist church stands against racism in all its forms. The opinions previously expressed by Tommy Robinson do not reflect our beliefs and values.” | The church said: “The Methodist church stands against racism in all its forms. The opinions previously expressed by Tommy Robinson do not reflect our beliefs and values.” |
| Anti-racism demonstrators are expected to stage a counter-protest to Robinson’s event, with Greater Manchester police on alert for any disorder. | Anti-racism demonstrators are expected to stage a counter-protest to Robinson’s event, with Greater Manchester police on alert for any disorder. |
| Nahella Ashraf from Stand Up To Racism Manchester said: “He is not welcome in Wythenshawe, nor anywhere in the north-west.” | |
| John Morgan, the Manchester district secretary of the National Education Union, said: “We will oppose any attempt to disrupt the multicultural city that is Manchester.” | John Morgan, the Manchester district secretary of the National Education Union, said: “We will oppose any attempt to disrupt the multicultural city that is Manchester.” |
| Robinson founded the EDL, a far-right Islamophobic group, in 2009. He frequently complains of being smeared as a racist, insisting he does not care about skin colour and his objection is to Islamist political ideology rather than people. | Robinson founded the EDL, a far-right Islamophobic group, in 2009. He frequently complains of being smeared as a racist, insisting he does not care about skin colour and his objection is to Islamist political ideology rather than people. |
| However, he has been filmed making remarks including “Somalis are backward barbarians”, calling British Muslims “enemy combatants who want to kill you, maim you and destroy you”, and claiming refugees are “raping their way through the country”. | However, he has been filmed making remarks including “Somalis are backward barbarians”, calling British Muslims “enemy combatants who want to kill you, maim you and destroy you”, and claiming refugees are “raping their way through the country”. |
| A Manchester city council spokesman said: “Neither the council nor landowners, Wythenshawe community housing group, have given permission for this event to take place. Together with Greater Manchester police and WCHG, we will be monitoring it closely to ensure that any disruption to nearby residents is minimised.” | A Manchester city council spokesman said: “Neither the council nor landowners, Wythenshawe community housing group, have given permission for this event to take place. Together with Greater Manchester police and WCHG, we will be monitoring it closely to ensure that any disruption to nearby residents is minimised.” |
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