EDL leader Tommy Robinson quits group

English Defence League leader and founder Tommy Robinson has left the group, saying he has concerns over the "dangers of far-right extremism".

The EDL organises protests across the UK against "radical Islam".

Mr Robinson said it was still his aim to "counter Islamist ideology", although "not with violence but with better, democratic ideas".

His EDL co-leader Kevin Carroll has also announced he is leaving the group, which was formed in 2009.

Mr Robinson's personal assistant told the BBC that no replacement for him had been found and that 12 senior figures in total were going.


Archive: Tommy Robinson spoke to the BBC about his life in June 2013
'No longer productive'
The EDL has organised marches and demonstrations in several cities across the UK, which have seen sometimes violent confrontations with anti-fascism campaigners.

The decision of Mr Robinson and Mr Carroll to leave follows discussions with the Quilliam group, which describes itself as a "counter-extremism think tank".

Mr 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 said it hoped Mr Robinson would "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".

Chairman Maajid Nawaz said: "As well as being a very positive change for the United Kingdom, this is a very proud moment for Quilliam. This represents not a change but a continuation for us, as challenging extremism of all kinds forms the basis of our work.

"We have been able to show that Britain stands together against extremism regardless of political views and hope to continue supporting Tommy and Kevin in their journey to counter Islamism and neo-Nazi extremism."

12 leaders have left. I wonder if they break up.Back to football hooliganism they go.

Never thought I'd see the day where I'd have respect for Tommy Robinson, admitting that something you've put years of your life into has become nothing more than an extremist group and then walking away can't be an easy thing to do.

When someone is invested in a group, it's a very tough thing to break away from it. Most of humanity would rather isolate themselves via cognitive dissonance and fall further and further into extremism. So whatever the guy's views are, respect on him for at least realising that the level of extremism that the EDL holds is toxic, and those aren't the methods to get things done.

This is no statement on what political position I hold, by the way; I have disagreed with people all across the political spectrum who believe that violence is a legitimate method of social change, and that emotion can be used to work out what is appropriate above or in place of rationality.

When someone is invested in a group, it's a very tough thing to break away from it. Most of humanity would rather isolate themselves via cognitive dissonance and fall further and further into extremism. So whatever the guy's views are, respect on him for at least realising that the level of extremism that the EDL holds is toxic, and those aren't the methods to get things done.This is no statement on what political position I hold, by the way; I have disagreed with people all across the political spectrum who believe that violence is a legitimate method of social change, and that emotion can be used to work out what is appropriate above or in place of rationality.

according to news reports, robinson want sot continue attacking extremeist islam, but without the backward foot hooligan support that edl attracts - and interstingly with the assistance of Quiliam , which was set up by two former pro-islamist recruiters, that have now become vocal activists against islamism