Oh Tommy - Wheels Coming Off

And so it came to pass that Stephen Yaxley Lennon, who styles himself Tommy Robinson, arrived back in the UK from his brief exile in Spain, and was not nicked. He was pleasantly surprised, and continued to promote his rally in London, scheduled for today. But into each life a little rain must fall, and for Lennon it came pouring as he journeyed to Folkestone yesterday.

The Great Man had been instructed to surrender himself to the cops at the town’s Police station. This he duly did, and was charged under the Terrorism Act, having declined to give the rozzers his phone’s PIN. But all was not lost: he was bailed in advance of a future court appearance. Then came the really bad news: he was nicked again, and this time he wasn’t walking free.

Having skipped the meanings hearing for his Contempt of Court charge, what is called a Bench Warrant had been issued for his arrest. And what better place to execute said warrant than down the cop shop? Lennon was then remanded in custody, to the great relief of all those people who wished it had happened rather earlier. So what happens to his London victory rally?

And this is where the wheels began to come off. “ADMIN POST - TOMMY HAS BEEN SENT TO PRISON!!!” told his account on Twitter, X, or whatever Muskrat’s calling it this week. But Lennon had not been sent to prison: he had been remanded in custody, which is not the same thing. And his delegate confirmed this: "We can confirm that Tommy is now being held on remand until Monday where he will appear at Woolwich Crown Court at 10am”.

But his rally would go ahead. “Demo day has arrived, sadly without Tommy in attendance, however we'd like to reiterate his message, to stay calm, don't react to provocation, we're here not only for him, but most importantly to pay respects to Peter Lynch, and support the families of the political prisoners”.

Lynch was one of those jailed for violent disorder in the wake of riots earlier this year, who later died in prison. He is therefore now a cause celèbre for the far right. He pleaded guilty; he was not a “political prisoner”. This means nothing to Lennon and his hangers-on, though, for whom the law must be applied in full for Scary Muslims™, but not for white people.

So what effect did Lennon’s detainment on the Kent Coast have on the list of the great and the good prepared to speak at his rally? Minor thesp, failed chanteur and not-even-getting-out-of-the-noise-floor politician Laurence Fox perused that list and decided that they were not significant enough people to warrant the presence of Himself Personally Now. He would not be attending.

Lennon’s adoring fans have not taken the news at all well. Also, the level of paranoia has reached new heights among them, exemplified by someone using the Twitter handle “No to ECHR & ILLEGALS … No to BBC Licence Fee” whining “Just had our coach from Leicester CANCELLED!!!!! THIS GOVERNMENT ARE A COMPLETE JOKE!!!” As if.

Yet the faithful will still turn up, still pony up their hard-earned cash, still watch Lennon’s tedious videos, with their distant relationship to reality. Brendan May mused “To all Tommy Robinson fans - he's being held in prison until Monday, so this is a reminder that now is the time to send him all your savings again, so he can spend it on his next luxury holiday to Cyprus next year. You know what to do!” LBC host James O’Brien was on the same page.

“I have been arrested, please send me your money … I have not been arrested, please send me your money … I am on holiday in a very expensive hotel, please send me your money … I am not on holiday in a very expensive hotel, please send me your money … Nice ‘work’ if you can get it”.

One Tweeter summed up the whole charade: “Tommy Robinson moved the date of this far-right march to coincide with his court date & handed himself in knowing he’d be detained. This gives him endless excuses to play victim for the knuckledraggers & gives Laurence Fox an excuse to pull out. Tommy Cultists - you got played”. Lennon has taken them all for mugs.

The law may have finally caught up with Stephen Lennon. That is all.

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