Right-wing activist Tommy Robinson faces allegations of lying under oath regarding his personal finances, while fundraising drives conducted in his name may constitute fraud, a Channel 4 Dispatches investigation has alleged.
Following a 12-month investigation by the programme, former director of public prosecutions Sir Max Hill KC concluded that some of the material gathered could justify a criminal inquiry.
Robinson, real name Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, rejected the claims in a written statement to Dispatches, saying: “I deny perjury… I deny fraud.”
The documentary – titled Tommy Robinson: Where’s The Money Gone? – asserts that despite collecting hundreds of thousands of pounds in public donations, several high-profile fundraising appeals failed to reach their intended recipients.
Sir Max informed the broadcaster that an alleged failure to pass on funds raised for a survivor of the Telford grooming scandal was “likely to be fraud” through misrepresentation.
The survivor, referred to as “Kate”, stated she received no money from campaigns promoted in her name.
She further accused Robinson of filming a suicidal phone call without her consent and airing it in a documentary using her real name despite promises of anonymity, describing his alleged actions as “despicable”.
In response, Robinson denied using her crisis to make money or broadcasting the footage against her will, stating he recorded the call due to an imminent risk to her life and that Kate was content with the film prior to its release.
He added that four other featured survivors received financial support, but he was unable to contact Kate.
The Dispatches investigation also examined evidence suggesting Robinson lied under oath during a June 2022 High Court hearing into his finances, following his failure to pay £100,000 in libel damages to Syrian schoolboy Jamal Hijazi.
In court, Robinson claimed he had no role in running Lennon Consultancy Limited, a firm managed by his ex-wife Jenna Lennon, and that their finances were kept completely separate.
The Dispatches programme reported seeing a 2018 legal contract signed by Robinson on behalf of the company, as well as corporate emails showing him directing staff.
The documentary also reported that documents showed tens of thousands of pounds from commercial deals were paid straight into his ex-wife’s personal account.
Sir Max described the evidence as “deeply concerning” and said it justified a police investigation into perjury, an offence carrying a maximum seven-year prison sentence.
Mr Robinson maintained the company was associated with his ex-wife and denied that payments to her were intended to hide his earnings.
The Dispatches documentary alleged that further claims cast doubt on Mr Robinson’s repeated public assertions that he has been completely “debanked” in the UK.
Reporter Matt Shea demonstrated during the broadcast that he successfully transferred money into an active Metro Bank account held under his real name, Stephen Lennon.
Mr Robinson stated it was a basic personal account rather than a standard current account, maintaining that his supporters’ donations are not paid into his personal accounts.
The programme also stated that questions have been raised regarding other fundraising initiatives, including an appeal for the family of Peter Lynch, a rioter who died in prison.
A former crowd security worker alleged that cash collected in buckets was never passed on.
Mr Robinson said Lynch’s family declined the money, leading to the funds being allocated to support his own children instead.
The documentary also reported that four companies handling donations failed to file financial accounts, with three going into liquidation owing money to HMRC.
A former associate of Mr Robinson, Lauren Southern, alleged she witnessed him using donor funds to finance expensive lifestyle choices and drugs.
The programme also alleged that cryptocurrency analysis suggested £6,000 in Bitcoin from a donation wallet was transferred to a gambling platform in 2020.
Mr Robinson dismissed the allegations as false statements from disgruntled former associates, denying donor funds were ever used for personal expenses or gambling, and insisting supporter donations are received and spent entirely on legitimate campaigns and events.
Tommy Robinson: Where’s the Money Gone? airs on Channel 4 at 10pm on Wednesday.
