More than 50 MPs call on the US not to let Tommy Robinson into the States

Fifty five MPs have written to the US Secretary of State calling on America to enforce a travel ban against far-right activist Tommy Robinson.

The founder of the English Defence League has been invited to speak at an event in Washington later this month.

The MPs include Conservative and Shadow Cabinet politicians, such as Labour’s Luciana Berger and Chris Bryant, have written to Mike Pompeo.

‘We hope you agree that it would send a terrible signal if a convicted felon deemed inadmissible to the United States such as Yaxley-Lennon (Robinson’s real name) were allowed to travel to your country and speak before a prominent audience despite his conviction for previously entering the United States illegally,’ reads the letter, which is written in conjunction with the Hope not Hate group.

‘Clearly the gravity of his criminal serious record, his brazen violation of U.S. immigration law and the threat he poses to the American public will ensure that he isn’t granted admission to the U.S.’

The MPs said that he should not be allowed to use the trip to ‘promote his violent and extremist agenda’.

Robinson has not yet been granted permission to travel to the US.

In 2013 he was jailed for 10 months after entering the US illegally on somebody else’s passport. He had previously been banned from travelling to America because of a previous drugs offence.

Despite this and other convictions, Robinson’s reputation grew grew after he was jailed for endangering the trial of an Asian grooming gang by posting videos filmed outside court online.

He was jailed earlier this year after admitting contempt of court charges but that conviction was later quashed.

However, his international profile increased as a result and the 35-year-old is also reportedly said to be soon embarking on a speaking tour to Australia.

The MPs’ letter emerged after it was also revealed that Robinson had been banned from using PayPal to raise funds.