For someone whose Facebook page is usually the first place where he posts his latest news and thoughts, Stephen Yaxley Lennon, who styles himself Tommy Robinson, has been unduly reticent one one subject, and that is what he intends to do when his retrial for allegations of contempt of court resumes at the Old Bailey later this month.
There is lots of braggadocio concerning the interview he gave to Jason Farrell of Sky News, and that he’s going to sue them for libel (if he does, he’ll get laughed out of court, or find himself in receipt of a reference to Arkell versus Pressdram 1971), and that he wants to see a demonstration outside the Bailey on the day of his trial, but one thing is missing.
Fortunately, The Great Man’s thoughts have been captured on video. In yet another interview, this time recorded while he was away in Germany last weekend, he reaffirmed that “On the 23rd of October, I will probably go back to prison”. Why so certain?
“I am going to read a statement in court … so I sat down with my solicitors … I sacked my solicitors [my emphasis], because they tried to broker a deal, where I apologise, and I admit guilt, and then if I do that, then I go home. I said I’m never going to do that … they were working for the other side [my emphasis], that’s what I felt. I said ‘this is an historic moment, and I want to speak and stand by my convictions’”. Do go on.
“So I’m going to stand up in court, and I’m going to read a statement that basically stand up for the people of Britain [!]. It tells THE TRUTH about Mohammed. It tells THE TRUTH about Islam, and there are not many moments that will come like this”.
There was more about how he had to sit down his wife and children and tell them why he was making this grand gesture, and even the suggestion that his going to jail would somehow save an unspecified number of girls and young women from rape.
We also get “The same weekend I did it, three other reporters breached the same restriction, the same weekend”. It is unlikely that any judge is going to be impressed by someone with Lennon’s track record trying to tell them to “Look over there”.
But it isn’t about saving anyone. It is, as before, about Himself Personally Now. And for anyone not sure what Stephen Lennon is trying to do here, let me spell it out.
He makes sure there is a crowd outside the Old Bailey on the day of his retrial. He gets speakers to turn up to support him; these get the mob fired up. Then he goes into court and effectively dares the judge to send him down, to make him a martyr.
When he gets sent down, the duly fired-up mob goes on the rampage, laying siege to the Old Bailey and preventing their hero from being taken off to jail. Police officers, passers-by, counter-protesters, all get attacked. Lawyers, politicians, journalists, all are threatened and of course disbelieved. Only the great Tommy is to be believed.
That is the level of delusion playing right now in Stephen Lennon’s mind. Meanwhile, no girls or young women will be saved. But that was never the point of this charade.
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