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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/may/18/tommy-robinson-salvini-shows-far-right-agenda-attainable
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Tommy Robinson: Salvini shows far-right agenda attainable | Tommy Robinson: Salvini shows far-right agenda attainable |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Tommy Robinson has said Matteo Salvini, the anti-Islam Italian minister accused of targeting refugees, had shown what was attainable from pursuing far-right policies. | Tommy Robinson has said Matteo Salvini, the anti-Islam Italian minister accused of targeting refugees, had shown what was attainable from pursuing far-right policies. |
| Speaking in a pub car park on the latest stage of his European election campaign, Robinson told supporters in the former mill town of Heywood in Lancashire that Italy’s interior minister had shown it was possible to make the transition from being classed as an “extremist” into “one of the most powerful men in Europe”. | Speaking in a pub car park on the latest stage of his European election campaign, Robinson told supporters in the former mill town of Heywood in Lancashire that Italy’s interior minister had shown it was possible to make the transition from being classed as an “extremist” into “one of the most powerful men in Europe”. |
| About 300 supporters, many holding aloft pints, comprised one of the biggest crowds of Robinson’s campaign to become an MEP. | About 300 supporters, many holding aloft pints, comprised one of the biggest crowds of Robinson’s campaign to become an MEP. |
| Heywood’s last census showed 461 Muslims lived in the town. One of those, student Shariq Haidery, 18, heckled Robinson from behind police lines. | Heywood’s last census showed 461 Muslims lived in the town. One of those, student Shariq Haidery, 18, heckled Robinson from behind police lines. |
| 'Punches, attacks, milkshakes': inside the Tommy Robinson campaign | 'Punches, attacks, milkshakes': inside the Tommy Robinson campaign |
| The teenager said: “I’m here because how could I tell my children that I did not stand against that Islamophobic bigot?” | The teenager said: “I’m here because how could I tell my children that I did not stand against that Islamophobic bigot?” |
| Another student, Esha Khan, 18, said: “It’s important that we make a stand and tell people how wrong he is.” | Another student, Esha Khan, 18, said: “It’s important that we make a stand and tell people how wrong he is.” |
| Dwayne, 32, who did not want to give his full name, from neighbouring Middleton, was among Robinson’s supporters. He said he was against elitist establishment forces that he believed the former leader of the English Defence League was up against. | Dwayne, 32, who did not want to give his full name, from neighbouring Middleton, was among Robinson’s supporters. He said he was against elitist establishment forces that he believed the former leader of the English Defence League was up against. |
| “He’s categorised, sidelined, as a pleb but if he went to Oxbridge instead of being from Luton and into football he would be viewed very differently. It’s classism,” he said. | “He’s categorised, sidelined, as a pleb but if he went to Oxbridge instead of being from Luton and into football he would be viewed very differently. It’s classism,” he said. |
| He believed that even if Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, won enough votes to become the north-west’s MEP, the count would be rigged to prevent him from being elected. | He believed that even if Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, won enough votes to become the north-west’s MEP, the count would be rigged to prevent him from being elected. |
| Other supporters were confident he would become the UK’s first independent MEP, pointing out Robinson might need just 8% of the vote if turnout was low. | Other supporters were confident he would become the UK’s first independent MEP, pointing out Robinson might need just 8% of the vote if turnout was low. |
| Robinson promised to shake up his prospective colleagues if he won the seat. “Put me slap bang in the middle of them and watch the fireworks!” | Robinson promised to shake up his prospective colleagues if he won the seat. “Put me slap bang in the middle of them and watch the fireworks!” |
| One of them cheering was Fahed, who claimed he left Islam almost three decades ago over what he said were views in the Pakistani community towards white women. | One of them cheering was Fahed, who claimed he left Islam almost three decades ago over what he said were views in the Pakistani community towards white women. |
| “Print that if you dare, but you won’t – you’ll just say that Tommy is a racist,” he said. | “Print that if you dare, but you won’t – you’ll just say that Tommy is a racist,” he said. |
| In nearby Rochdale, four miles east along the A58 with a sizeable Muslim population, nine men were jailed in 2012 for sexually exploiting young girls, a trial that has made the town the target of repeated marches by far-right groups. | In nearby Rochdale, four miles east along the A58 with a sizeable Muslim population, nine men were jailed in 2012 for sexually exploiting young girls, a trial that has made the town the target of repeated marches by far-right groups. |
| Robinson, to the surprise of some present, did not attempt to bolster his campaign message by repeating previous claims of Asian grooming gangs. | Robinson, to the surprise of some present, did not attempt to bolster his campaign message by repeating previous claims of Asian grooming gangs. |
| Throughout his speech, about 70 protesters booed and jeered while a line of police officers ensured there was at least 100 metres between opposing sides – sufficient distance to deter any flying milkshakes. | Throughout his speech, about 70 protesters booed and jeered while a line of police officers ensured there was at least 100 metres between opposing sides – sufficient distance to deter any flying milkshakes. |
| As Robinson finished his 30-minute speech to football-style chanting of “Oh Tommy Tommy!” many dispersed into nearby pubs with a cohort promising to head to the Greater Manchester town of Oldham for the next stop on his campaign trail. | As Robinson finished his 30-minute speech to football-style chanting of “Oh Tommy Tommy!” many dispersed into nearby pubs with a cohort promising to head to the Greater Manchester town of Oldham for the next stop on his campaign trail. |
| Footage posted on social media showed clashes between Robinson’s supporters and counter-demonstrators. | |
| Two police vehicles were damaged after a disturbance broke out at the campaign event. | |
| A police spokesman said: “Today during a planned event in Oldham, officers responded accordingly to a disturbance in the Limeside area. | |
| “A number of objects were thrown and some damage has been caused to two police vehicles but there have not been reported injuries.” | |
| On Sunday, he heads to Liverpool followed by visits to Blackburn, Preston, Burnley and Salford next week, locations that, like Heywood, have suffered from post-industrial deprivation amplified by austerity. | On Sunday, he heads to Liverpool followed by visits to Blackburn, Preston, Burnley and Salford next week, locations that, like Heywood, have suffered from post-industrial deprivation amplified by austerity. |
| Tommy Robinson | Tommy Robinson |
| European parliamentary elections 2019 | European parliamentary elections 2019 |
| Matteo Salvini | Matteo Salvini |
| The far right | The far right |
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