Tommy Robinson’s supporters arrived ahead of him to stir public sentiment in Epping, Essex. Wendell Daniel, a filmmaker and former Labour councillor who now works with Robinson’s platform “Urban Scoop,” encouraged a woman to speak on camera. He said, “Talk to Tommy, tell him you want to see him coming down here,” and the woman replied, “Tommy, I think you should definitely come down because you will help out the situation so much more.”
Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, later announced on X, “Hear you loud & clear, I’m coming to Epping next Sunday ladies & bringing thousands more with me.” He added that actor Laurence Fox would also join the protest.
The protests followed the arrest of an Ethiopian asylum seeker accused of sexually assaulting a young girl. As public anger grew, senior UK politicians like Angela Rayner and Kemi Badenoch warned about rising tensions. Robinson saw this incident as another chance to lead a protest against asylum seekers.
Robinson Steps Back After Warnings
Despite his initial plans, Robinson seemed to backtrack just a day later. Speaking in a video, he admitted the protest “might not benefit him and it might not benefit Epping.”
Lucy Brown, a former close colleague, explained his change of heart. She said, “He’s very reactive,” and added, “He’s very quick to believe his own myth.” Brown believed he likely received messages warning him not to go.
Brown, who had followed Robinson closely, including during his meetings with Steve Bannon, noted, “He just does not think. Which is why he falls in [to] prison all the time, because he’s always saying stuff that he shouldn’t.”
A Close-Knit Circle Runs the Show
Robinson often portrays himself as a lone voice, but experts say he operates with a stable support system. Joe Mulhall of Hope Not Hate said, “He has a very tight team and most of them have been around for over a decade.”
One key ally is Ezra Levant, founder of Rebel Media. After Robinson’s arrest for breaching a court injunction, he publicly thanked Levant for supporting his family. Brown said, “Ezra Levant is very important… He is perpetuating the Tommy myth despite seeing him up close and personal. But it is a business to him.”
Robinson’s first post-prison interviews were with Rebel Media and his longtime friend Liam Tuffs, whose father is a convicted sex offender. Brown noted that Tuffs is “regarded as a calming influence” and claims to help Robinson stay sober, though she added, “I’m not sure if we can trust that Tommy is sober, to be honest with you.”
Tuffs and former EDL figure Guramit Singh, convicted in a violent robbery, were recently seen with Robinson at a restaurant. Staff reportedly felt uncomfortable during their visit.
The Men Behind Urban Scoop
Adam Geary, known as “Nem,” is another long-time associate who launched Urban Scoop and has advised Robinson since the early English Defence League days.
Robinson claims his protests are now peaceful and that he maintains good relations with police. But former insiders say he can be ruthless. Nick Lowles of Hope Not Hate recalled that after falling out with cousin Kev Carroll—who once helped lead the EDL—Carroll said, “You give Tom everything and he just wants more and more until you have nothing left to give.”
Robinson also once confronted Lowles at his home alongside Peter Keeley, a man who claimed to have made bombs. Separately, a journalist from The Independent had to seek a stalking order after investigating Robinson’s finances.
Support Driven by Fame and Money
Lucy Brown believes most of Robinson’s inner circle stick around for financial gain or online popularity. “Many of them have their own little YouTube channels,” she explained, hinting that association with Robinson boosts their reach and revenue.
She plans to release a memoir titled The Hate Club, sharing stories of her time with Robinson. She described the experience as chaotic and damaging, saying, “It’s like being around Peter Pan or something. You just have to keep up the myth.”
“He wines and dines them all… He schmoozes people, and he knows what they want,” she added, suggesting Robinson’s charm keeps his loyal team close—even as public controversy continues to grow around him.
