Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has accepted an invitation to speak at the Oxford Union on 28 May, The Oxford Blue understands. Robinson, whose legal name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, will reportedly debate the motion: “This House believes the West is right to be suspicious of Islam”.
The Union’s Trinity 2026 programme listed the debate as the only one without named speakers or a scheduled date. The term card stated that speakers would be “revealed shortly”, and the debate would bring “together leading theologians, activists, and political figures”.
The Union wrote in a statement to The Oxford Blue: “[f]or events with greater levels of external interest, information is often released closer to the planned date to mitigate any potential security risks”.
After reports of the invitation circulated, Robinson posted on X: “We’ll [sic] get ready because I’m coming”, appearing to confirm his attendance.
The invitation has drawn criticism due to Robinson’s history as co-founder and former leader of the far-right English Defence League, a counter-jihad, nationalist organisation which operated from 2009 until the mid-late 2010s.
Likewise, Robinson has faced legal controversies. In 2024, he was jailed for contempt of court after breaching an injunction connected to false allegations he had made about Syrian refugee Jamal Hijazi, who had successfully sued him for libel in 2021.
Oxford Stand Up to Racism have scheduled a protest outside the Union for 28 May, describing the event as “No Platform for Fascist Tommy Robinson”, and calling on the Union to cancel the invitation.
Oxford Students Against Discrimination and Stand Up to Racism Oxford also issued a statement which reads: “we condemn in the strongest possible terms the Oxford Union’s reported invitation to Tommy Robinson” and “[they] call on President Arwa Elrayess to rescind the invitation”.
Soon after, the Oxford Feminist Society and several other women’s student organisations released a statement condemning the reported invitation and Robinson’s alleged “weaponisation of sexual violence”.
“Speakers for this term are still being confirmed, with ongoing events in the Middle East being an important factor”, the Union further wrote in its statement to The Oxford Blue.
The 28 May debate will mark Robinson’s first formal debate at the Oxford Union. Robinson delivered a standalone address at the Oxford Union in 2014, after an earlier planned appearance was cancelled following his recall to prison. A 2013 invitation to debate nationalism was also withdrawn due to “significant security costs”.
Tommy Robinson has been reached for comment by Christine Savino, junior editor at The Oxford Blue.