Stephen Lennon unavailable for Oxford Union speech

Lennon claims police want him dead
More paranoid, deluded, self-pitying whingeing from the former English Defence League leader

The founder and former leader of the English Defence League will not talk at the Oxford Union as he is back in jail.

Stephen Lennon, who calls himself Tommy Robinson, was sentenced in January to 18 months in prison for mortgage fraud. He was released in June under licence and had been due to debate at the prestigious union on Thursday.

A statement on Facebook from his supporters said: “Tommy Robinson has been recalled to prison for responding to a threat on Twitter.” His lawyers said the recall was for a fixed term of 28 days, according to a spokesman for the union.

Mr Lennon tweeted: “I was going to speak this Thursday exposing police persecution and tactics. Police are at my house recalling me back to prison for my licence, reason given that I responded to a death threat targeting my family. All this to prevent me exposing the facts on Thursday at Oxford Union.”

An email was sent to students which said: “Tommy Robinson has recently been recalled into custody and so is unlikely to be able to speak.”

Lennon had previously been due to talk at the Union in September last year but the event was cancelled amid security concerns. The institution said at the time it could not afford the security for the events.

BBC News, 20 October 2014