Who is Tommy Robinson? Real name and all we know about British activist as calls for his release intensify

Tommy Robinson has been a polarizing figure in British politics, known for his far-right activism and controversial views on Islam and immigration. Currently serving an 18-month sentence in London’s Belmarsh prison, Tommy Robinson remains a focal point for political debate, with thousands of supporters taking to the streets of London on February 1, demanding his release. As calls for his release from prison grow, here's all we know about Tommy Robinson.

(Video via YouTube/The Sun)

Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Christopher Yaxley, is a right-wing British activist who was born on November 27, 1982. Robinson's journey to prominence has been marked by a series of criminal convictions, including his 2013 conviction for using a false identity to enter the U.S. illegally. During the hearing, the judge mentioned that Robinson's official passport was issued under the name Paul Harris. However, according to Metro UK, it remains uncertain if he has ever used this name publicly.

Stephen Yaxley adopted the name Tommy Robinson when he established the United People of Luton group. The name was inspired by a well-known Luton Town football hooligan, with Robinson himself revealing to the Huffington Post that his uncle suggested it. Allegedly, his uncle, envious of the original Tommy Robinson, encouraged him to adopt the name in order to draw attention.

Under the alias, Robinson went on to create the English Defence League and authored books like his autobiography Enemy of the State (2015), Silenced (2022), and Mohammed's Koran: Why Muslims Kill for Islam (2019). Despite his public persona, reports suggest that he keeps this identity separate from his family life, refraining from using the name at home with his wife and children, reported Metro UK.

Despite his troubled past, Tommy Robinson has become the leader of a movement that draws support from far-right groups across the UK, organizing rallies that highlight nationalist sentiments.

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What did Tommy Robinson do? Rallies demanding his freedom grow

Tommy Robinson admitted to violating a High Court order in 2021 by repeating false allegations about a Syrian teenager, Jamal Hijazi. The incident began in October 2018, when a video went viral showing Hijazi being attacked at school. In response, Robinson posted a video to his one million Facebook followers, falsely claiming that he had discovered Hijazi was a violent thug. This claim was untrue and led to widespread threats against the teenager and his family, reported BBC News.

Three years later, Hijazi won £100,000 in damages after the High Court ruled that Tommy Robinson's statements were defamatory. The court issued an injunction preventing him from making the same false claims again. Despite this, in February 2023, Robinson re-shared the false allegations and posted a video claiming he was being "silenced" by the state. His video, which reached at least 47 million views, further breached the court’s orders.

(Video via YouTube/BBC News)

Tommy Robinson was sentenced to 18 months in prison for contempt of court after he repeatedly made false accusations against the Syrian refugee, violating a court order.

On February 1, 2025, protestors assembled outside Waterloo railway station before marching toward Parliament, asking that Tommy Robinson be freed. Some of the banners at the protest read:

"Free Tommy. MEGA (Make England Great Again)"

“end state-sanctioned persecution”

“Free Tommy”

Some protestors held placards thanking Elon Musk for his support in his recent tweet, which read:

"Why is Tommy Robinson in a solitary confinement prison for telling the truth? He should be freed and those who covered up this travesty should take his place in that cell."