EDL Defections - WTF !!!!

[Deleted]

What the hell is this about ??

Quilliam @quilliamf

@quilliamf proud to announce the departure of @edltrobinson from the #EDL. Press release here: bit.ly/16Pcj9d

This has got everyone totally and utterly bemused and no wonder ....

Statement

Quilliam is proud to announce that Tommy Robinson and Kevin Carroll, the leaders of the anti-Islamist group, the English Defence League (EDL), have decided to leave the group. Having set up the EDL, infamous for its street protests, in 2009, they wish to exit this group, because they feel they can no longer keep extremist elements at bay.

Tommy Robinson said:

“I have been considering this move for a long time because I recognise that, though street demonstrations have brought us to this point, they are no longer productive. I acknowledge the dangers of far-right extremism and the ongoing need to counter Islamist ideology not with violence but with better, democratic ideas.”

[iainbhx]

For once, I agree with the Sage of Walsall. The only possible reaction is WTF!

[Deleted]

It is a strange and unexpected development, but it's a great coup for Quilliam, proving that you can still get results from sitting down and talking with people. Should be the end of the EDL, too.

[Deleted]

The "democratic means" bit of that quote can only mean standing for election, mind, which might cause some people to itch.

[The Bishop]

Isn't there some right wing micro-party which is already the de facto electoral wing of the EDL??

[Deleted]

British Freedom Party (

[Deleted]

""Quilliam is proud to announce that Tommy Robinson and Kevin Carroll, the leaders of the anti-Islamist group, the English Defence League (EDL), have decided to leave the group. Having set up the EDL, infamous for its street protests, in 2009, they wish to exit this group, because they feel they can no longer keep extremist elements at bay.
Tommy Robinson said:

“I have been considering this move for a long time because I recognise that, though street demonstrations have brought us to this point, they are no longer productive. I acknowledge the dangers of far-right extremism and the ongoing need to counter Islamist ideology not with violence but with better, democratic ideas.”

Quilliam has been working with Tommy to achieve this transition, which represents a huge success for community relations in the United Kingdom.

We hope to help Tommy invest his energy and commitment in countering extremism of all kinds, supporting the efforts to bring along his former followers and encouraging his critique of Islamism as well as his concern with far-right extremism. We call all of Tommy’s former colleagues in the EDL to follow in his footsteps and also call on Islamist extremist leaders to follow this example and leave their respective groups."
"

[Deleted]

total rubbish, he seems to have had a change overnight and whilst talking to this group was hunting down anti EDL people and still tweeting the same old stuff.

It is bollocks and people like Robinson do not suddenly become converts to the cause of multi-culrtalism ..

What do we know about this Quilliam group ?

[erlend]

I actually went to the BBC on the unfair assumption that this felt like a twitter rumour. And there it was. Interesting times clearly do not have to be all bad!

[Deleted]

It's founder Maajid Nawaz has gone from Hizb-ut-Tahrir to the Liberal Democrats if you want to read what is a fascinating story....

[erlend]

Having spent the spring and summer working for Camden Lib Dems where Maajid is PPC for Hampatead and Kilburn he has indeed got a background different from many politicians.

[Deleted]

Two tweets related to this (and @ianrobo might want to check the replies) -

/photo/1

[East Anglian Lefty]

Oct 8, 2013 9:29:31 GMT @doktorb said:

The "democratic means" bit of that quote can only mean standing for election, mind, which might cause some people to itch.

It's not "democratic means", it's "democratic ideas". Besides, nobody with a police record as long as Tommy Robinson's is likely to have a successful political career.

[Crimson King]

we have the dubious pleasure of an EDL march in a couple of weeks, I wonder what effect if any this will have on that

[Deleted]

could get nasty, may never happen ...

The thing is that I feel this is some kind of PR exercise to make him look more moderate when in fact he is not. This conversion does not fool me, people like him do not change their views and he has always encouraged the more extreme elements to his 'movement' and he was happy only a couple of weeks ago to get arrested for it.

[Crimson King]

Now that is where we differ, I believe we are all capable of repentence.

The practical point is if I am wrong things are not any worse, if you are wrong you reduce the chance of things getting better

[Deleted]

maybe we are and which is why I say it is stupid for UKIP to bar ex BNP members for life.

But this seems well so sudden because a couple of weeks ago he was showed no signs in any interviews of changing and becoming more moderate.

Wolf in sheep clothing of course

[tonygreaves]

Perhaps it's the ultimate evidence that the political centre is moving right, if Robinson thinks he is not an extremist.

Tony Greaves

[erlend]

Oct 8, 2013 13:24:56 GMT @ianrobo said:

maybe we are and which is why I say it is stupid for UKIP to bar ex BNP members for life.

But this seems well so sudden because a couple of weeks ago he was showed no signs in any interviews of changing and becoming more moderate.

Wolf in sheep clothing of course

I think UKIP are in a different situation to the rest of us. It is conceivable that several thousand ex BNP members could decide that was their obvious hoeme even if that was not the view of the current members. It is already not uncommon for people to describe UKIP as fascists. They would risk their ethos changing in a way one cannot imagine that of the older parties. Therefore I would regard this ban as something that those of us in other parties do not have the experience to second guess.

[Crimson King]

I'm not clear, not having had time to read all the reports, if Robinson is saying that his views are unchanged, but that there are those in the EDL who are even worse whom he no longer wishes to be associated with, or if, following discussions with Quilliam, he is saying that his views have changed with, for example a less one dimensional view of Islam and a repudiation of violence . (whether, if he claims the latter, he is telling the truth or not remains, as Ian says, a matter of dispute, but I live in hope)