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Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, aka ‘Tommy Robinson’, during a Unite the Kingdom march in central London, May 16, 2026
THE Oxford Union was slammed today for giving a “custom-made” platform to hard-right agitator Tommy Robinson in the wake of racist riots.
Local Stand Up To Racism (SUTR) activists urged the institution to rethink its decision to give a licence to use Oxford University’s brand to a “racist Islamophobe with a history of inciting violence.”
Oxford SUTR vice chairman Ian McKendrick, referring to Mr Robinson’s real name, said: “It is now clear that the far right, led by [Stephen] Yaxley-Lennon, is set on starting violent race riots.
“We saw in Southampton and now in Belfast and in Glasgow, that they are racialising tragedies to stir up hate and inspire fear.”
Oxford Brookes senior lecturer and University and College Union campaigner Dr Stuart Whigham condemned “the decision to provide a platform for his inflammatory and exclusionary rhetoric at a fellow University of Sanctuary, which should be providing a safe and inclusive environment for refugees and asylum-seekers in our city.”
Anti-racism activists will picket the event on Wednesday evening.
The Oxford Union was contacted for comment.
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