Analysis of information sources in references of the Wikipedia article "English Defence League" in English language version.
While there are people who describe themselves as EDL supporters, the organisation ceased to exist in any formal sense after its founder, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - who uses the alias Tommy Robinson - focused on spreading his message on social media platforms, where he has a sizeable following. But its core ideas - in particular an opposition to illegal immigration, mixed with hate predominantly aimed at Muslims - are very much alive, and loudly and widely spread among sympathisers online.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link){{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link){{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link){{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link){{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link){{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link){{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)These days, anti-racism group Hope Not Hate says it considers the [English Defence League] as non-existent, as does [Tommy] Robinson, the former founder, himself. ... But although the [English Defence League] is now officially considered defunct, the sentiments feeding it - anger at immigration at the heart of it - have remained.
Jacob Davey, director of policy and research at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), said: "People have been naming the EDL [English Defence League] as key figures when the EDL actually has ceased to function as a movement." The UK, like other parts of the world, now has "a much more decentralised extreme-right movement," he said.
While there are people who describe themselves as EDL supporters, the organisation ceased to exist in any formal sense after its founder, Stephen Yaxley-Lennon - who uses the alias Tommy Robinson - focused on spreading his message on social media platforms, where he has a sizeable following. But its core ideas - in particular an opposition to illegal immigration, mixed with hate predominantly aimed at Muslims - are very much alive, and loudly and widely spread among sympathisers online.
These days, anti-racism group Hope Not Hate says it considers the [English Defence League] as non-existent, as does [Tommy] Robinson, the former founder, himself. ... But although the [English Defence League] is now officially considered defunct, the sentiments feeding it - anger at immigration at the heart of it - have remained.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of July 2025 (link)Jacob Davey, director of policy and research at the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), said: "People have been naming the EDL [English Defence League] as key figures when the EDL actually has ceased to function as a movement." The UK, like other parts of the world, now has "a much more decentralised extreme-right movement," he said.