Colin Phillips

Anyone defending Tommy Robinson needs to explain exactly what they think he should be allowed to get away with. A man who claims to be a great British patriot, lives in Spain and spends the majority of the year on holiday at the expense of his “donors” was sitting in a holiday resort in Cyprus while stirring up civil unrest in Britain. Journalists reported on it. That is their job. It was a legitimate national story. And because Robinson didn’t like the scrutiny, he sent private investigators after the journalists, had them tracked and photographed, exposed their home addresses and their families, and threatened to turn up at their homes, saying “I’m coming to get you”. One journalist needed personal security. Another had to remove his family from their home. If you believe that is acceptable behaviour, that a man can threaten journalists and expose their families to intimidation simply because he dislikes their reporting, then you aren’t defending free speech. You’re defending intimidation. A jury heard the evidence and convicted him. Stop pretending this was a conspiracy because you don’t like the verdict.