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UK far-right activist Tommy Robinson convicted in contempt-of-court case

Judges on Friday (5) found British far-right activist Tommy Robinson to be in contempt of court after he filmed defendants during a trial last year and posted the footage on social media, breaching reporting restrictions on the case.

Robinson, 36, co-founder of the English Defence League (EDL) which has staged violent demonstrations against Islam, was earlier jailed for making the video recordings outside a courthouse in Leeds, northern England, which revealed the identities of defendants accused of the sexual exploitation of young girls while jurors were still considering their verdicts.


He successfully appealed against the jailing and was released. The Court of Appeal, however, ordered a rehearing and Attorney General Geoffrey Cox, the government's chief legal adviser, decided to start contempt proceedings against him.

"Posting material online that breaches reporting restrictions or risks prejudicing legal proceedings is a very serious matter and this is reflected in the Court's decision today," Cox said in a statement.

"I would urge everyone to think carefully about whether their social media posts could amount to contempt of court."

Sentencing of Robinson, who was charged under his real name of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, will take place at a later date. The maximum penalty for criminal contempt is two years in jail.

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UK’s first major South Asian music

Homegrown marks a new moment for South Asian music talent in the UK

Instagram/playbackcreates

Playback Creates announces Homegrown as UK’s first major South Asian music development push for new talent

Highlights:

  • New platform aims to support South Asian creatives in Wolverhampton and the Black Country
  • Homegrown will mentor up to ten emerging music artists aged 16–30
  • Funded by Arts Council England with Punch Records as a key partner
  • Final live showcase scheduled for March 2026

Playback Creates has launched its new Homegrown programme, a move the organisation says will change access and opportunity for young British South Asian artists. The primary focus is South Asian music development, and there’s a clear effort to create space for voices that have not been supported enough in the industry. It comes at a time when representation and career routes are still a challenge for many new acts.

UK\u2019s first major South Asian music Homegrown marks a new moment for South Asian music talent in the UK Instagram/playbackcreates

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