Tommy Robinson has lost a bid to overturn his ban from entering London for protest marches, but he can now enter the capital for police-approved political meetings. The far Right activist, 40, is accused of failing to comply with a Metropolitan Police direction to leave the area around the Royal Courts of Justice during a protest against antisemitism in central London on November 26.
Organisers of the march - which followed the Hamas terror attack on October 7, Israel's military response, a series of pro-Palestine marches in central London, and rising incidents of antisemitism - had said they did not want Robinson at the event.
Robinson - real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – has been charged with a criminal offence and is due in court next month.
According to his police bail, he is banned from entering London unless he is meeting with solicitors or attending court.
At Westminster magistrates court on Monday, Lennon argued his human rights are being infringed by the bail conditions, and insisted he should be allowed into the city to attend protests.
District Judge Michael Snow rejected the application, citing fears of further offences being committed, but agreed Lennon could travel to London for pre-arranged meetings with political groups and media organisations – provided police officers agree the visits in advance.
“I know who Mr Lennon is”, said the judge. “I know he has a particular view of matters and protests arising from what’s occurring in Israel and within the Middle East.”
He said Lennon “showed significant hostility” to police on the day of the protest at the centre of the criminal case, and “there was a clear risk of disorder arising”. The judge concluded bail conditions were needed in Lennon’s case, saying: “Protests which have taken place in relation to the ongoing situation in the Middle East are continuing, and it’s likely, therefore, that Mr Lennon will wish to attend those protests, either to support or counter the position taken by others. “I’m satisfied, because of the behaviour exhibited, on the basis of the allegations in the police statement, if Mr Lennon does attend he is likely to commit further offences.”
He said Lennon’s ban on entering the London area within the M25 would stay in place, but agreed to allow him to attend meetings as long as the visits were agreed in advance by the Met Police’s public order unit.
The court was told about an upcoming meeting organised by a law firm specialising in immigration law, and a suggested meeting with the editor of the Daily Mail.
“He is entitled to exercise his democratic right in a way that doesn’t involve the risk of further offending”, said the judge.
Lennon, the founder of English Defence League, must seek permission for meetings in London from the police, and can apply to the court for a variation of his bail if permission is refused.
He is due to appear in court on January 22 to face an allegation of failing to comply with a section 35 direction excluding a person from an area.
At Monday’s hearing, he indicated that he intends to plead not guilty to the charge and take the case to trial.
A video of the incident at the protest showed Robinson apparently being pepper-sprayed by police during his arrest, when he was also handcuffed.
After being released from police custody, he said on social media the bail conditions were “a blatant abuse of my human rights”.
