Guess who’s back, back again. Tommy Robinson – Britain’s favourite far-right attention seeker. 

Robinson (real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, in case you forgot that he used to be a mortgage fraudster before becoming a walking headline) was serving an 18-month sentence for contempt of court at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes. 

He was jailed in October for multiple breaches of a court injunction issued in 2021. The order barred him from repeating false claims about a Syrian refugee who had successfully sued him for libel. In true Tommy form, he ignored it – repeatedly – and ended up back behind bars. Not for the first time, and we reckon not for the last. 

And now, thanks to the good behaviour clause he has been released. Early. Again. 

Robinson built his notoriety and following based on anti-Muslim rhetoric, ragebait and the ability to get banned from platforms without ever actually disappearing. Previously, he’s been convicted for assault, fraud and multiple counts of contempt of court. 

To his fans, he’s Britain’s last honest man. To everyone else, he’s a bloke with a phone and a grudge. 

So what happens now? 

Expect more of the same. As he emerged from prison with long hair and a bushy beard, he’s announced that he will be organising a ‘free speech’ festival in London later this year. Can’t say the Riot and Reason team will be getting tickets. 

While there’s people serving time for stealing nappies, Tommy waltzes out of prison and gets straight back on his propaganda machine. 

If there’s a silver lining, it’s that he’s no longer the headline act. The volume is turned down and he’s more like background noise now. But don’t get too comfy, his type doesn’t go without a fight – we’re sure we’ll get a podcast out of it. 

So yeah, Tommy’s at large again. Stay alert, mute accordingly.