• Privacy policy
  • T&C’s
  • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Meet the Team
  • Contact us
TLE ONLINE SHOP!
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
SUPPORT THE LONDON ECONOMIC
NEWSLETTER
  • TLE
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Opinion
  • Elevenses
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • Film
    • Lifestyle
      • Horoscopes
    • Lottery Results
      • Lotto
      • Thunderball
      • Set For Life
      • EuroMillions
  • Food
    • All Food
    • Recipes
  • Property
  • Travel
  • Tech/Auto
  • JOBS
No Result
View All Result
The London Economic
No Result
View All Result
Home News

Tommy Robinson spent donations from far-right supporters on ‘coke and nights out’, ex-allies claim

The founder of the English Defence League - now a self-styled journalist - was listed on the insolvency register this month under his original name, Stephen Christopher Lennon.

Henry Goodwin by Henry Goodwin
2021-03-18 10:21
in News
FacebookTwitterLinkedinEmailWhatsapp

Tommy Robinson has been accused of misusing supporters’ money, receiving hundreds of thousands of pounds in funding and donations despite declaring himself bankrupt.

The founder of the English Defence League – now a self-styled journalist – was listed on the insolvency register this month under his original name, Stephen Christopher Lennon.

But financial documents seen by The Independent hint at the huge scale of funding given to Robinson since he announced he would be “going independent” in 2018.

In just two months, Robinson received £425,000 in donations from his supporters, documents showed. He is also believed to have raised a much larger amount after being jailed for contempt of court in May 2018, despite an American group called Middle East Forum reportedly funding his defence.

Former employees have also raised questions about where the money went – but Robinson vehemently denies using any funds.

Around £10,000 was donated for a protest called ‘day for freedom’ that Robinson headlined in May 2018. But Caolan Robertson, a former far-right activist who worked with Robinson, claims money he requested to buy equipment and cover costs “never materialised”.

The video producer – who has since renounced the far right – said he witnessed the transfer of large sums of money from a crowdfunding page into Robinson’s business account.

RelatedPosts

Emotionless Maxwell says meeting Epstein was ‘greatest regret’ of her life

Ghislaine Maxwell sentenced to 20 years in prison

Now doctors threaten industrial action as discontent with government grows

Watch: ‘Tory fascists’ trends as Steve Bray told he isn’t allowed to protest by police

Robertson said he asked what the money was being used for after noticing the withdrawal of £33,000 in donations, he told The Independent.

Robinson reportedly replied that he had “mates I’ve got to pay back for “seshes”, Robertson said. “We realised that he was withdrawing huge amounts of [donations] in cash from a business bank account, and just giving it to his friends who were selling him coke and who he owed for nights out,” he added.

“That wasn’t what we signed up for when we told our supporters that we needed it for kit, expenses, transport, security and staff costs.”

Another employee echoed those concerns, saying they were not properly compensated while working for Robinson. A third person said payments they were due were delayed for several months.

Robertson said that Robinson would brag of being “f***ing loaded” and making “mad money” when drunk, making lavish purchases including a new car and designer clothes.

Robinson has denied using cocaine and said he removed donated funds from a crowdfunding account to put them into a business account, “to run the business operations”. 

“These operations have included costs of travel, accommodation, film and editing crew and social media activity,” he added. “We have also made donations to the families of child victims of grooming, for example at Christmas.” 

He also claimed funds have been spent on security, “after I have been attacked or my family threatened”.

Related: Asylum seekers ‘could be sent abroad to be processed’

Since you are here

Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.

Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.

Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.

If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.

To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.

The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.

The shop can be found here.

You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .

Subscribe to our Newsletter

View our  Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions

Trending on TLE

  • All
  • trending
Abdollah

‘Rescue us’: Afghan teacher begs UK to help him escape Taliban

CHOMSKY: “If Corbyn had been elected, Britain would be pursuing a much more sane course”

What If We Got Rid Of Prisons?

More from TLE

Celebrities urge Johnson to ditch ‘horrendous’ asylum reforms

International sanctions often miss their mark and do grave damage in the process

Reaction as Covid testing centre makes way for Brexit lorry park

This bereaved mum’s heartfelt plea is going viral after Trump celebrated anniversary of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting partying with NRA chief

Getting to know Sardinia, at the Relais Villa del Golfo Spa Hotel

Clive Tyldesley says his business has “let the public down” on Brexit

Developers start to rebuild London pub “brick-by-brick” after illegally demolishing it

GB News cut interview short after taxi driver says he ‘100% backs’ workers out on strike

Map of companies worth entire countries stock markets

Rio Ferdinand calls on government to punish and educate online abusers

JOBS

FIND MORE JOBS

About Us

TheLondonEconomic.com – Open, accessible and accountable news, sport, culture and lifestyle.

Read more

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.




No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Food
  • Travel
  • JOBS
  • More…
    • Elevenses
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Tech & Auto
  • About Us
    • Meet the Team
    • Privacy policy
  • Contact us

© 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. All Rights Reserved.