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Tommy Robinson: Former EDL leader banned from using PayPal

'A lot' of money has been frozen in account for 180 days, 35-year-old says

Friday 09 November 2018 10:33 GMT

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Tommy Robinson addresses supporters outside court after case referred to Attorney General

Tommy Robinson has been banned from using PayPal.

The founder of the English Defence League said the online payments system told him he did not fit within its user guidelines.

He would never be able to use the platform again, the 35-year-old added.

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

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1/16Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

A Tommy Robinson supporter in London after former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson left the Old Bailey where his contempt of court case was adjourned

PA

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

A Tommy Robinson supporter outside the Old Bailey in London where the former English Defence League (EDL) leader is accused of contempt of court

PA

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

Tommy Robinson supporters outside the Old Bailey in London before former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson arrives accused of contempt of court

PA

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey

Getty

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey

Getty

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

Supporters of former English Defence League (EDL) leader Tommy Robinson protest at the Old Bailey Courthouse

EPA

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

Supporters of former English Defence League leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, or 'Tommy Robinson', who was jailed for contempt of court in May and later released, wait for him to arrive at the Old Bailey to attend a court hearing

Reuters

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey

Getty

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

Tommy Robinson arrives for his hearing at the Old Bailey

Reuters

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey

Getty

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

Supporters of far-right spokeseman Stephen Christopher Yaxley-Lennon, AKA Tommy Robinson, the former leader of the right-wing EDL (English Defence League) wave flags as they demonstrate outsise The Old Bailey

AFP/Getty

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

Supporters of far-right figurehead Tommy Robinson demonstrate outside the Old Bailey

EPA

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

EPA

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

Robinson gestures to supporters from inside the Old Bailey

AFP/Getty

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

AFP/Getty

Tommy Robinson supporters protest outside the Old Bailey

EPA

PayPal said it does not comment on individual accounts, but said in a statement: “We do not allow PayPal services to be used to promote hate, violence, or other forms of intolerance that is discriminatory.

“We do not take decisions like these lightly, and we work hard to be rigorous and fair-minded when reviewing PayPal accounts.”

The ban follows online petitions demanding the firm stop processing payments for Mr Robinson gathered thousands of signatures.

But Mr Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, branded the ban as “fascism”.

“They just don’t like my opinion and want to silence me,” he said.

“The government and establishment can see I have public support, they can see I have the ability to fight back.”

Mr Robinson said PayPal has also frozen “a lot” of money that was in the account for 180 days.

PayPal said: “Striking the necessary balance between upholding free expression and open dialogue and protecting principles of tolerance, diversity and respect for all people is a challenge that many companies are grappling with today.

“We work hard to achieve the right balance and to ensure that our decisions are values-driven and not political.”

Tommy Robinson posts video online surrounded by British Army soldiers

Mr Robinson was freed from prison in August after three leading judges quashed a contempt of court conviction.

On Monday, he was formally released from bail after his contempt of court case was referred to the attorney general.

The attorney general’s office has said all material was being looked at “afresh” before a decision was made on whether to refer Mr Robinson to the High Court for contempt.

It came after reports that Mr Robinson could make more than £1m during a potential trip to the US later this month, where he has been invited to speak at the US congress by a group of Republican politicians and is waiting waiting to see if US authorities will grant him a visa.

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