A surge in English nationalism has led to an unexpected alliance with Irish nativists, united by their shared opposition to immigration. The phenomenon is exemplified by the online activities of Tommy Robinson, a prominent British anti-immigration figure who has been vocal about his concerns regarding immigration in Ireland.
English nationalism has rarely been more interested in Ireland. Any Irish people who hang around Westminster have been hit with the same question many times in recent years from curious British politicos: “What’s the deal with the anti-immigration sentiment?”.
Moderates, especially those from the left, often deliver the inquiry with narrowed eyes and a slightly incredulous tone, as if they can’t quite get their heads around the idea that sections of the famously-welcoming Irish populace might object to people coming into the country from outside. Meanwhile, many from the right wing of British politics – and the more right they are the truer this becomes – usually ask the same question with barely restrained delight. It is widely acknowledged that many hardcore English nationalists have made common cause with those who inhabit the more nativist-inclined corners of Irish nationalism over the last two years – a prospect that once seemed barmy but is now increasingly common. Both flags, the Union Jack and the Irish Tricolour, are co-opted in parallel as fluttering symbols of the anti-immigration cause.This phenomenon is exemplified by the online interactions of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, better known as Tommy Robinson, a notorious anti-immigration provocateur. Robinson, who has agitated against immigrants for years, has been in prison in Britain since October for contempt of court. During his incarceration, his social media accounts have continued to espouse his views, often targeting Ireland. They suggest he has been fixated on the issue in Ireland ever since he visited the country in February 2023 to observe bubbling hard right sentiment. Robinson's tweets have focused on anti-immigration sentiment in various Irish towns, such as Clonmel. Many observers in London as well as Dublin have been puzzled by Robinson's interest in Ireland, considering him to be much too extreme on immigration even by Nigel Farage's standards.Adding to the intrigue, Robinson holds an Irish passport. His mother, Rita Carroll, is Irish. He has also claimed Irish connections in his teenage years and upbringing, suggesting a complex relationship with the island nation. His online pronouncements, however, paint a picture of a fervent nativist who sees Ireland as a battleground against immigration. This convergence of English and Irish nationalism, driven by anti-immigration sentiment, presents a fascinating and potentially volatile development on both sides of the Irish Sea
English Nationalism Irish Nationalism Immigration Anti-Immigration Tommy Robinson Nigel Farage
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