Matthew Goodwin

So I've always found Tommy Robinson interesting for a number of reasons. We're a similar age. He grew up in Luton, which is very close to the town. I grew up on the outskirts of somewhere called St. Albans. He reminds me of lots of the guys I grew up with. I don't want to make it too personal. My background was somewhat similar, not stable, certainly wasn't middle class.

And so when I saw him first break through in 2009, 2010, drawing attention to this issue, I sort of understood where he was coming from and the anger and the frustration that was driving that. Now, where I departed from Robinson is that I felt at the time

And so when I saw him first break through in 2009, 2010, drawing attention to this issue, I sort of understood where he was coming from and the anger and the frustration that was driving that. Now, where I departed from Robinson is that I felt at the time

And so when I saw him first break through in 2009, 2010, drawing attention to this issue, I sort of understood where he was coming from and the anger and the frustration that was driving that. Now, where I departed from Robinson is that I felt at the time

that being so provocative, and this was between 2009 and 2013-14, with his movement, the English Defence League, by being so provocative on the streets, I felt that he was playing into the hands of the state, that he was becoming useful for the state, which was then saying, well, if you talk about these issues, you're like these guys. And I think he's obviously been on a journey.

that being so provocative, and this was between 2009 and 2013-14, with his movement, the English Defence League, by being so provocative on the streets, I felt that he was playing into the hands of the state, that he was becoming useful for the state, which was then saying, well, if you talk about these issues, you're like these guys. And I think he's obviously been on a journey.

that being so provocative, and this was between 2009 and 2013-14, with his movement, the English Defence League, by being so provocative on the streets, I felt that he was playing into the hands of the state, that he was becoming useful for the state, which was then saying, well, if you talk about these issues, you're like these guys. And I think he's obviously been on a journey.

He's not the same person today that he was then. But I think the reality of Tommy Robinson is that he would not have become a prominent, significant figure in our national political life, which he is. Were it not for the sustained failures of the British state to deal with the issues that he has been campaigning on, had they taken this issue seriously? Had they investigated the rumors?

He's not the same person today that he was then. But I think the reality of Tommy Robinson is that he would not have become a prominent, significant figure in our national political life, which he is. Were it not for the sustained failures of the British state to deal with the issues that he has been campaigning on, had they taken this issue seriously? Had they investigated the rumors?

He's not the same person today that he was then. But I think the reality of Tommy Robinson is that he would not have become a prominent, significant figure in our national political life, which he is. Were it not for the sustained failures of the British state to deal with the issues that he has been campaigning on, had they taken this issue seriously? Had they investigated the rumors?

Had they looked at the rise of radical Islamism as well, particularly within India? some of the communities that Robinson knows very well, then he wouldn't have become a significant figure. So he certainly gave voice to some of the issues that were being ignored, as did, by the way, a few other people at the time, some renegade journalists and so on.

Had they looked at the rise of radical Islamism as well, particularly within India? some of the communities that Robinson knows very well, then he wouldn't have become a significant figure. So he certainly gave voice to some of the issues that were being ignored, as did, by the way, a few other people at the time, some renegade journalists and so on.

Had they looked at the rise of radical Islamism as well, particularly within India? some of the communities that Robinson knows very well, then he wouldn't have become a significant figure. So he certainly gave voice to some of the issues that were being ignored, as did, by the way, a few other people at the time, some renegade journalists and so on.

But I think at the same time, though, and this is a It's a sensitive conversation because I think everybody who cares about this issue cares very strongly about it, right? My view is that the only way we can change Western societies today, we can save Western civilization, we can reassert the values that we care about, is through the ballot box. That's my view.

But I think at the same time, though, and this is a It's a sensitive conversation because I think everybody who cares about this issue cares very strongly about it, right? My view is that the only way we can change Western societies today, we can save Western civilization, we can reassert the values that we care about, is through the ballot box. That's my view.

But I think at the same time, though, and this is a It's a sensitive conversation because I think everybody who cares about this issue cares very strongly about it, right? My view is that the only way we can change Western societies today, we can save Western civilization, we can reassert the values that we care about, is through the ballot box. That's my view.

That the only way forward is by appealing to a majority of concerned citizens by bringing together a broad coalition of people who say, actually, enough is enough. I'm not going to have this project imposed on me anymore. I'm not going to support mass uncontrolled immigration. I'm not going to be told that little boys can become little girls and little girls can become little boys.

That the only way forward is by appealing to a majority of concerned citizens by bringing together a broad coalition of people who say, actually, enough is enough. I'm not going to have this project imposed on me anymore. I'm not going to support mass uncontrolled immigration. I'm not going to be told that little boys can become little girls and little girls can become little boys.

That the only way forward is by appealing to a majority of concerned citizens by bringing together a broad coalition of people who say, actually, enough is enough. I'm not going to have this project imposed on me anymore. I'm not going to support mass uncontrolled immigration. I'm not going to be told that little boys can become little girls and little girls can become little boys.

I'm not going to see my country, my home be denigrated in this way. I want to push back through the ballot box. And to me, that's the only viable, alternative, plausible way forward. It's not to say that I think these people are wrong to be highlighting these issues. But I think if you're serious about bringing about change, changing things, changing policy, changing government.