Tommy Robinson's 'extremist views should not be welcome in our great town' say faith and civic leaders in Heywood

Tommy Robinson's 'extremist views' should not be made welcome in Heywood, civic and religious leaders in the town have said.

Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, has been touring the region as he bids to become a Member of the European Parliament for the North West.

But ahead of a planned visit to Heywood political and faith leaders in the town have called on voters to reject the English Defence League founder's 'politics of division and discord'.

A statement signed by Heywood and Middleton MP Liz McInnes, eight priests and vicars and seven councillors says: "We want to express our deep concern about the visit to Heywood of Tommy Robinson. 

"As civic and faith leaders in Heywood, we believe that racism, intolerance and hatred are no way to build a civilised and peaceful society. Such views have no place in our political conversations.

Tommy Robinson is canvassing in towns across the region as he bids to become a Member of the European Parliament for the North West (PA)

"Heywood is a proud town with a rich tradition of community life, supported by many volunteers working together in harmony.

"In the middle of the nineteenth century the Irish, escaping from famine, settled here to work in the mills; in the 1960s Heywood was enriched by the many Mancunians who settled on Darnhill.

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"All helped build the Heywood we know today. So too, in more recent years, people from Europe, especially Poland, and from countries further afield, including some fleeing persecution, have settled here. They too have much to offer our town.

"In every generation newcomers to our town have been made welcome, regardless of creed or colour or country of origin.

Tommy Robinson had a milkshake thrown over him as he was canvassing in Warrington earlier this month (Unknown)

"This has been a hallmark of Heywood in the past and we seek to work together to see it continue. 

"To welcome Tommy Robinson is to turn our backs on the welcome given to those who've made their homes in Heywood, including many of our forebears. 

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"As community leaders we call upon the people of our town to reject the politics of division and discord. Yaxley-Lennon's extremist views should not be welcome in our great town of Heywood."

Earlier this month Robinson, 36, who has been banned from Facebook and Twitter in a crackdown on hate speech, had a McDonald's drink thrown at his head as he campaigned in Warrington, Cheshire.

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