Britain’s protests over the Israel-Gaza war have led to the return to prominence of the far-right figure Tommy Robinson.
The activist used the opportunity to counter-demonstrate against the massive pro-Palestinian march in London at the weekend to promote his profile.
Having been in obscurity for several years after serving time in jail for contempt of court, the diminutive former leader of the English Defence League took to the streets with a gaggle of supporters on Saturday.
He used X, formerly Twitter, to call for far-right groups to protest in London. “Terrorist organisations, flags and banners are flying, calling for jihad and no one gets arrested, but they got someone holding a British flag and an English flag,” he said in a video.
“Our police and government go for the easy option. The silent majority have had enough in this country of the abuse and the liberties that are being taken on our sacred [Armistice] day.”
During his march through central London, supporters chanted “England till I die” and “we want our country back” with some waving Union and St George flags.
His supporters attempted to descend on Soho’s Chinatown but were barred by the police while Mr Robinson avoided the scuffles by slipping into a taxi.
The 40 year old’s apparent decision to avoid a high-profile confrontation suggests the hard-right figure is using the Israel-Gaza war to return to politics.
A man of high intelligence – he was selected among hundreds for an aircraft engineer apprenticeship aged 20 – Mr Robinson has used race relations and particularly Islamic issues to raise his profile.
The activist, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, was banned from what was then Twitter for five years and has been sentenced to jail six times in the past 15 years. On one occasion he was convicted of libelling a 15-year-old Syrian refugee and of prejudicing the trial of an alleged child-grooming gang.
He also has convictions for football hooliganism and for assaulting an off-duty police officer, a crime for which he was sacked from his apprenticeship.
Without a clear career path and growing up in Luton, which has an ethnically diverse population, he took on what he saw as the “Islamification” of Britain by founding the EDL in 2009.
He was also motivated after allegedly discovering that extremists had recruited men from Luton to fight for the Taliban in Afghanistan against British soldiers.
But Mr Robinson left the EDL in 2013, stating it had been hijacked by extremists, and went on to befriend a reformed Islamic extremist called Maajid Nawaz. He later apologised for stoking fear among British Muslims and claimed it was extremism he disliked, not Muslims.
For a short period in 2018 he was appointed political adviser to the leader of Ukip, the British right-wing Eurosceptic party, prompting its founder Nigel Farage to resign.
When then-president Donald Trump was defeated in the 2020 US election, Mr Robinson was praised by the leader of the far-right Proud Boys after he called on the president to fight the election result.
He continues to have support from anti-Islamic groups in Denmark and Germany.
Scores
Rajasthan Royals 160-8 (20 ov)
Kolkata Knight Riders 163-3 (18.5 ov)
UNSC Elections 2022-23
Seats open:
- Two for Africa Group
- One for Asia-Pacific Group (traditionally Arab state or Tunisia)
- One for Latin America and Caribbean Group
- One for Eastern Europe Group
Countries so far running:
ARGENTINA SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Franco Armani, Agustin Marchesin, Esteban Andrada
Defenders: Juan Foyth, Nicolas Otamendi, German Pezzella, Nicolas Tagliafico, Ramiro Funes Mori, Renzo Saravia, Marcos Acuna, Milton Casco
Midfielders: Leandro Paredes, Guido Rodriguez, Giovani Lo Celso, Exequiel Palacios, Roberto Pereyra, Rodrigo De Paul, Angel Di Maria
Forwards: Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Lautaro Martinez, Paulo Dybala, Matias Suarez
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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%3Cp%3EAverage%20amount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20at%20DIC%20factory%20every%20month%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EApproximately%20106%2C000%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAmount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20from%201%20litre%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%20%3Cstrong%3E920ml%20(92%25)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETime%20required%20for%20one%20full%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%20used%20cooking%20oil%20to%20biofuel%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EOne%20day%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEnergy%20requirements%20for%20one%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%201%2C000%20litres%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%96%AA%20Electricity%20-%201.1904%20units%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Water-%2031%20litres%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Diesel%20%E2%80%93%2026.275%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
