Tommy Robinson hands in petition at Downing Street in defence of soldiers who took picture with him

Tommy Robinson walks away from No.10 after handing in a petition signed by 200,000 people
REUTERS
Tom Powell6 November 2018

Anti-Islam activist Tommy Robinson has handed a petition in at Downing Street on behalf of a soldier who faced disciplinary action after posing for a picture with him.

The founder of the English Defence League was allowed to walk up to the door of No10 on Tuesday afternoon in order to hand in the 200,000-strong petition opposing a “political witch hunt” against the armed forces.

He began the campaign after the army launched an investigation into pictures of a group of young soldiers in camouflage uniform grinning and posing with Robinson at a motorway services last month.

Members of the armed forces are not allowed to be seen promoting political messages while in uniform.

Robinosn poses with ex-UKIP MEP Janice Atkinson
REUTERS

He was joined by ex-UKIP MEP Janice Atkinson and blind army veteran Alun Elder-Brown as he handed in the petition at the Prime Minister’s London address.

He said in a video: “We are here to deliver a petition of just under 200,000 people who signed to prevent a political witch hunt against members of our Armed Forces who I met at a service station. They had their photograph taken with me.

He added: “This here holds 200,000 names. Those people were ready and willing to take part in whatever needed to be done to prevent the political targeting of this young lad.”

Anyone is allowed to deliver a petition to the government at Downing Street if they apply for permission beforehand.

After Robinson published the pictures with soldiers in early October, an army spokeswoman said “far right ideology is completely at odds with the values and ethos of the Armed Forces”.

He had posted the picture on Facebook alongside the caption: “A moment like this makes it all worthwhile. Today I met real British heroes." He also posted footage in which soldiers appeared to be chanting his name.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed an investigation was launched into the incident, with the possibility of disciplinary action.

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