In February 2020, far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (‘Tommy Robinson’) travelled to Moscow and St Petersburg, giving interviews to Kremlin-backed broadcaster RT and meeting figures linked to Russian nationalist movements. Since then, questions have long swirled about his Russian connections and the sources of his funding amid mounting legal debts.
Byline Times can now reveal that years before that trip to Russia, Robinson was hired as a “goodwill ambassador” for an unregistered charity fronting a secretive Russian propaganda network that worked directly for President Vladimir Putin’s administration, and has ties to a sanctioned Russian state-linked oil giant.
The unregistered charity – the MMBF Trust – is part of a network centred around the London Post.
At first glance, the London Post resembles a local news website covering UK gambling regulations and London restaurant reviews. It has featured articles about Borough Market’s grocery ordering service, and good spots for ramen.
But sources who spoke to Byline Times described it as part of what intelligence analysts call a ‘black PR’ operation: coordinated disinformation campaigns designed to manipulate public opinion while concealing their true sponsors.
So they can do everything against porn but nothing against russian propaganda?
Because it’s actually Israeli propaganda but they don’t want to say that nor dismantle it.
What makes you say that?
Not disagreeing per say, just wondering.
Tommy Robinsons ties to Israel and the UAE (Israel’s Arab proxy) are the most direct line you’ve ever seen.
Again, sorry, what makes you say that?
I have seen evidence that he met with Russian officials in 2020 including intelligence operatives.
What ties him to Israel or the UAE?
Money from one man – US tech billionaire Robert Shillman – ties Robinson to a Who’s Who of far-right influencers with millions of followers online. Among them was US conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was murdered in Utah last week.
Shillman, a former board member of Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces, hosts a pro-Israel podcast and also funds fellowships through the DHFC thinktank. Its founder, David Horowitz, was an anti-Muslim ideologue described as the “intellectual godfather” of the Trump administration in an obituary when he died in April this year. Another DHFC Shillman fellow was Raheem Kassam, a former Ukip adviser who set up the UK arm of Breitbart News, where Steve Bannon was chair. Bannon, who spoke at Robinson’s rally , once reportedly called him “the backbone of this country”.
Am I reading this right?
To me that reads that Robert Shillman is funding both Israeli interests and far right interests.
There’s a link but that doesn’t mean that Israel are doing the funding? Quite the opposite. They’re taking cash from some absolute arsehole who is also funding a load of far right agitators.
Have I missed something? I am not being obtuse.
Robert Shillman is one of the top Zionist billionaires funding pro-Israel and anti-Muslim propagandists all over Europe. Robert Shillman gave the money to Tommy Robbinson to further the Israeli agenda.
Da
Not shocked, just furious. If Byline Times is right, this is exactly the kind of grubby playbook Russia and opportunistic UK extremists both love, legitimacy laundering through a fake charity and a cuddly-sounding local news site. Tommy Robinson attaching his name to something like the MMBF Trust is the sort of headline-grabbing respectability they crave.
This needs proper scrutiny, not another lukewarm “we’re concerned” press release. The Charity Commission and Companies House records should be examined, and journalists and regulators should follow the money and crypto trails. Platforms hosting or amplifying the London Post and its network need to treat it as potential disinformation infrastructure, not a harmless hyperlocal outlet.
Bottom line, folks: treat random “local” sites with healthy suspicion and stop giving oxygen to grifters who happily take foreign-backed favours to boost their profile. I’m tired of seeing our politics sold out like this.
Traitor. Put him in lifelong solitary confinement.
Putin has been funding right-wing extremism all across Europe since he assumed power, heavily, and successfully. He wants us divided and fighting internally, and he’s had great success. Zero doubt in my mind he was behind Brexit.
Well obviously
