With far right activist Tommy Robinson now banned from Facebook and Instagram, many have rightly noted that he will no longer be able to reach nearly as wide an audience – fortunate, as he has used these platforms to intimidate and harass various minorities.
While this is undoubtedly a welcome move, it’s not time to celebrate yet. Indeed, it appears that this deplatforming has allowed the former English Defence League leader, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, to become even cosier with a number of far right groups who have also been ejected from various platforms.
For the last year, for instance, the black and yellow lamba flags of Generation identity have been a constant presence at Robinson rallies over the last year.
This group, tied together to the broader, pan-European identitarian movement, has been criticised for a number of positions that have been described as fascist – calling for the ‘remigration’ (read: deportation) of migrants, chiefly. Additionally, their use of so-called ‘street patrols’ and public actions, backed by slick production and branding, has drawn comparisons with fascist movements of the past.
Recently, the movement has also been associated with violence. In Lille, a number of Generation Identitaire activists (the French branch of the movement) were arrested after an Al-Jazeera expose depicted them taking part in racist attacks.
Observers of the far right don’t take the Identitarian movement lightly, and have viewed it as an acceptable, ‘friendlier’ gateway into more serious, violent groups. Their rapid spread and seemingly large reserves of cash have alarmed a number of anti-fascist activists.
Therefore, it’s alarming to see Robinson, who has undeniable star power within the far right, draw closer to them.
This was first noticed in April last year when he read out a prepared speech from the head of the movement’s Austrian arm, Martin Sellner, at Speaker’s Corner in London. Sellner had been refused permission to enter the UK.
Robinson also worked extensively with activists associated with the movement, such Lauren Southern and Lucy Brown, throughout 2018. In fact, throughout the recent ‘Panodrama’ documentary produced by Robinson, Brown’s laptop is shown festooned with a number of Identitarian symbols, as it is used to play footage.
Now, on his YouTube channel - perhaps the only major social media platform he has left – Robinson has begun to openly repeat Identitarian movement rhetoric.
Chiefly, he has begun to talk about the ‘Great Replacement’, the idea that white European populations are systematically being subsumed by migrant families from the Middle East and elsewhere.
He has also begun to increasingly mention ‘Cultural Marxism’ – the far right conspiracy theory that holds that a small elite are purposefully degrading popular culture and society as a whole, for an undetermined, unknown end. This is a key refrain of the Identitarian movement, and several other far right groups. Indeed, it was adopted from the Nazi idea of ‘kulturbolschewismus’.
Joining forces, or growing closer would be of benefit to both Robinson and Generation Identity.
Robinson has often talked about developing his own street movement, one that could be called upon for spontaneous actions and other activities based around his work as an activist.
After a series of setbacks locally, including the reveal that one of their senior members, Tore Rasmussen was associated with Norwegian Neo-Nazi groups, Generation Identity could do with the star power and legitimacy provided by Robinson adopting their goals.
Together, each would benefit, and gain access to areas they simply couldn’t penetrate before. Robinson, certainly, could play a much larger role in a coordinated European far right movement – something that figures like Steve Bannon would undoubtedly relish.
If we are serious about neutralising the threat of the far right, especially as Brexit looms, we should be looking at any attempt for groups and figures coming together to increase both visibility and numbers.
With Tommy Robinson as the most visible fixture of the UK far right, we should be concerned about whichever group he aligns himself with.
They will be gaining a lot of power and influence, and very quickly.