Tommy Robinson facing new contempt of court allegations
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Tommy Robinson facing new contempt of court allegations Banzai Japan Music Video The far-right activist Tommy Robinson is facing a second serious legal action for contempt of court, weeks after leaving the country on the eve of another case. The Attorney General’s Office launched the new action against Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, over alleged breaches of a court order not to repeat defamatory lies about a Syrian refugee. Yaxley-Lennon has not been seen in the UK since he left the country hours before a court case concerning related allegations. The High Court has said it will order the 41-year-old’s arrest if he ignores the case. Book Novotel Hotel Contempt of court is a serious offence against the workings of the justice system. The government definition, external of the offence includes “disobeying or ignoring a court order” – and those found guilty can go to prison for up to two years, get a fine, or both. In July 2021, Syrian teenager Jamal Hijazi won £100,000 in damages following a major defamation battle after Yaxley-Lennon spread false allegations accusing him of being a violent thug. A judge ordered him not to repeat the claims, but last year the founder of the English Defence League returned to them and included them in a film distributed online to his followers. In June, Yaxley-Lennon was ordered to the High Court to answer the allegation that he had ignored the judge’s order. Banzai Japan Music Video Two days before that scheduled hearing in July, Yaxley-Lennon repeated the claims to thousands of his supporters in London’s Trafalgar Square – and the following day took a Channel Tunnel train to France. The Attorney General’s Office said that the latest contempt allegations included the showing of the film at the rally, its publication on the X platform and related instances of alleged breach of the court order in three online interviews. A hearing over the original and new allegations will be held on October 28. The film remains pinned at the top of the Tommy Robinson X account – and in the introduction he stands outside the High Court and accuses judges of gagging him. This afternoon, the account was updated with a message launching a petition and accusing the judiciary of “continued persecution”. Hours after the London rally on 28 July, Yaxley-Lennon went to the Channel Tunnel terminal at Folkestone, where police officers stopped him under counter-terrorism stop-and-search powers. When he allegedly refused to co-operate, he was arrested and held until 22:00 BST. He then left the country. During the subsequent riots, which developed out of conspiracy theories often promoted on the Tommy Robinson social media channels, critics say he inflamed tensions. One post on his X account declared “Now is the time”. It is not clear whether Yaxley Lennon personally published the post and it was later deleted. When BBC News asked him to clarify why it had been posted, he publicly replied with an F-word response. The High Court has issued an arrest warrant for Yaxley Lennon’s arrest – but it will only be triggered if he does not contact the court by 2 October, to allow him the opportunity to agree to turn up voluntarily on 28 October. So far he has not contacted the court. Book Novotel Hotel Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Tommy Robinson remanded in custody ahead of court date
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Tommy Robinson remanded in custody ahead of court date Banzai Japan Music Video Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been taken into custody ahead of a major demonstration by his supporters in London this weekend. Kent Police said a 41-year-old man had been arrested at the direction of the High Court and would appear at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday in connection with contempt of court allegations. The force said Tommy Robinson has also been charged under his real name of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon with allegedly refusing to provide his phone’s PIN to officers who had stopped and questioned him at the border in Folkestone in July. He was granted bail over that allegation and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 13 November. Book Novotel Hotel The alleged offence under the Terrorism Act is not an accusation that he was planning an attack and relates solely to police powers to examine phones at ports as part of investigations. Mr Yaxley-Lennon is facing potential jail at Monday’s hearing on contempt of court charges. It is alleged he breached an injunction not to repeat lies about a Syrian refugee which had been previously ruled by a judge to be defamatory. Shortly after he entered Folkestone police station on Friday afternoon, the official Tommy Robinson X account confirmed that he had been taken into custody. Banzai Japan Music Video The move to detain Mr Yaxley-Lennon comes less than 24 hours before a major policing operation to contain potentially thousands of his supporters. For weeks, and posting from abroad, he had been urging them to come to London on Saturday, claiming that the state was trying to silence him for speaking out about the impact of immigrants on the UK. Metropolitan Police commanders have put in place a significant operation to contain the protest and separate it from a counter-demonstration. Both the Met and British Transport Police are due to be supported by officers from other forces across the country. The Met said there would be a “significant police presence” to ensure the two groups were kept apart. It is not clear how many people will attend but a similar gathering in London in July saw thousands of Robinson supporters in Trafalgar Square. The activist, who founded the now-defunct English Defence League, has been accused by critics of whipping up tensions during the summer’s riots. Mr Yaxley-Lennon has not been charged with any offences relating to the disturbances. Book Novotel Hotel Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Tommy Robinson jailed for contempt of court
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Tommy Robinson jailed for contempt of court Banzai Japan Music Video Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been jailed for 18 months after admitting contempt of court by repeating false claims against a Syrian refugee. Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, admitted 10 breaches of a High Court order made in 2021, during a hearing at Woolwich Crown Court. Lawyers for the solicitor general accused the 41-year-old of “undermining” the rule of law. Passing sentence, Judge Mr Justice Johnson said the breaches of the injunction, which prevented Yaxley-Lennon from repeating the allegations, were not “accidental, negligent or merely reckless” and the custodial threshold was “amply crossed”. Book Novotel Hotel The hearing on Monday was the culmination of events that date back to October 2018. That month, a video went viral showing how Jamal Hijazi, a Syrian in West Yorkshire, had been attacked by another teenager at school. Yaxley-Lennon then posted his own response to one million Facebook followers alleging that his investigation had established that Mr Hijazi was a violent thug, a claim that was untrue. The Yaxley-Lennon video spread widely and the Syrian teenager and his family received death threats. Three years later, Mr Hijazi won £100,000 in damages when the High Court ruled Yaxley-Lennon’s claims against him had amounted to defamation. Banzai Japan Music Video The court imposed an injunction on Yaxley-Lennon, banning him from making the false claims again. In February 2023, Yaxley-Lennon, who founded the long-defunct English Defence League (EDL), began repeating the claims and went on to post online a film claiming he had been “silenced” by the state. That film may have been viewed at least 47 million times. Eventually, this July, the anti-Islam activist showed the film to thousands of his supporters in London’s Trafalgar Square, saying he would not be silenced. The following day he left the country. Aidan Eardley KC, for Solicitor General Sarah Sackman, told the court that Yaxley-Lennon had intended to repeat the false allegations, despite the injunction, and then take “evasive” measures. “This is a high culpability case because of the high number of breaches,” said Mr Eardley. “It is a continuing breach, the material is still out there and some of it is under the defendant’s control.” Sasha Wass KC, for Yaxley-Lennon, said he was a journalist who had been following his principles and was a passionate believer in free speech. “This defendant has been neither sly nor dishonest nor seeking gain for himself,” she said. She said that he was such a controversial figure he may be placed in solitary confinement by prison governors, as had occurred the last time he had been jailed, and there was medical evidence he had previously suffered trauma, panic attacks and nightmares. Jailing Yaxley-Lennon for 18 months, Mr Justice Johnson said: “In a democratic society underpinned by the rule of law, court orders must be obeyed. “Nobody is above the law. Nobody can pick or choose which laws or which injunctions they obey, or which they do not. “Even if they believe that an injunction is… contrary to their views they must comply with the injunction. “They are not entitled to set themselves up as the judge in their own court. Otherwise the administration of justice and rule of law would break down.” The judge said that the contempt of court had been aggravated because the defendant had repeated the claims after the beginning of proceedings against him – and he had not taken steps to stop the false claims continuing to be in circulation. The sentence could in future be cut by four months if the defendant showed the court that he had taken steps to remove the offending film. But the judge added: “The defendant has not shown any inclination to comply with the injunction in the future. All of his actions suggest that he regards himself as above the law.” This case was the fourth contempt case he has faced, having previously received a suspended sentence and a six-month jail term. Yaxley-Lennon has been separately charged with failing to unlock his phone for police when he was stopped and questioned at a port under counter-terrorism powers. He will next appear in court in relation to that allegation in November. Book Novotel Hotel Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Rapper convicted over Tommy Robinson video
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Rapper convicted over Tommy Robinson video Banzai Japan Music Video A rapper has been found guilty of posting a “menacing” video on social media, aimed at the former English Defence League leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson. In it, he mentioned artillery and made a gun gesture while shouting “pow, pow, pow”. Omar Abdirizak, 31, denied sending a message of a menacing character contrary to the Communications Act 2003. But he was convicted by Birmingham Magistrates Court after a two-hour trial. The video, which attracted more than two million views, was reposted by Yaxley-Lennon alongside a claim that it was a threat to murder him due to “lies” by the media and politicians, the court heard. Book Novotel Hotel Prosecutor Tim Talbot-Webb told the court references to guns and artillery made by the Birmingham-based rapper, known as Twista Cheese, meant it had crossed the line from freedom of speech into criminality. Abdirizak denied making direct threats to Yaxley-Lennon. The drill rapper said he had decided to make the video and publicise his music on YouTube and TikTok to his 20,000 followers “to put Tommy Robinson in his place”. He said he made it after seeing footage of broadcaster Piers Morgan and influencer Andrew Tate discussing issues connected to last summer’s riots. During the minute-long video, Abdirizak, wearing a patterned hoodie and grey jogging bottoms, said he was a Somali pirate. He also said he had a message for Yaxley-Lennon, before adding he had “Muslims in every corner” and “look at the artillery we’ve got”. He told the court: “Even when I say ‘bam, bam, bam’, this is all entertainment.” Banzai Japan Music Video Backdrop of summer riots The singer, of Long Street, Sparkbrook, denied making a gun gesture in the video and said the references to artillery were an encouragement to viewers to seek out a music video made in Somalia which featured rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. But Mr Talbot-Webb reminded the court the video was made during the summer riots, aimed at mosques and other institutions. “The Crown say that by making references to pirates and artillery… any member of the public seeing that could well have been caused apprehension of serious violence,” he said. Abdirizak was granted conditional bail and will be sentenced on 12 February after the court expressed concern at “hidden disabilities” that needed to be explored, including mental health issues. He will also be sentenced for possession of cannabis and a racially aggravated public order offence. Book Novotel Hotel Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Rapper jailed over Tommy Robinson video
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Rapper jailed over Tommy Robinson video Banzai Japan Music Video A rapper who posted a “menacing” video on social media, aimed at the former English Defence League leader Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, has been jailed. Omar Abdirizak, known as Twista Cheese, made rifle gestures and imitated firing a gun in the video, which was shared on 10 August last year. During a trial in January, a court heard the video, which attracted more than two million views, was reposted by Yaxley-Lennon alongside a claim that it was a threat to murder him due to “lies” by the media and politicians. Book Novotel Hotel Abdirizak, 31, of Long Street, Sparkbrook, was jailed for 20 weeks at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court on Friday. During the trial, prosecutors told the court references to guns and artillery made by the Birmingham-based rapper meant it had crossed the line from freedom of speech into criminality. The drill rapper said he had decided to make the video and publicise his music on YouTube and TikTok to his 20,000 followers “to put Tommy Robinson in his place”. He said he made it after seeing footage of broadcaster Piers Morgan and influencer Andrew Tate discussing issues connected to last summer’s riots. Banzai Japan Music Video The artist denied making a gun gesture in the video and said the references to artillery were an encouragement to viewers to seek out a music video made in Somalia, which featured rifles and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher. However, he was found guilty of sending an offensive or menacing message on social media. He also admitted possession of cannabis and a racially aggravated public order offence. Book Novotel Hotel Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Plots to harm Tommy Robinson in prison, court told
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Plots to harm Tommy Robinson in prison, court told Banzai Japan Music Video The High Court has said it expects to rule on Friday on whether far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon can challenge his jail conditions. Prison authorities segregated Yaxley-Lennon, who goes by the alias Tommy Robinson, after concluding other inmates had put a “mark on his head” and may have been planning to try to kill him. The Luton man says that the segregation at HMP Woodhill, Milton Keynes, is destroying his mental health and breaching his human rights. Book Novotel Hotel Details of his life in jail reveal he has received more visits than any other inmates as part of a “bespoke regime” to keep him safe – but Yaxley-Lennon says his separation from other inmates is ideologically motivated. He is due to be released on licence at the end of July. Yaxley-Lennon’s High Court application to challenge his prison conditions means an unrelated prosecution – for allegedly refusing to comply with a counter-terrorism search of his phone – has been put back for months. That trial, which relates to his alleged refusal to co-operate with police at the Eurotunnel terminal last July, had been due to begin today. That case has been delayed to allow his challenge to be heard first. The founder of the now-defunct English Defence League was jailed for 18 months last October for breaching a court order which had directed him not to repeat lies about a Syrian refugee. Since November, he has been held in a closed wing at HMP Woodhill. Alisdair Williamson KC, for Yaxley-Lennon, said the conditions amounted to a breach of the European Convention on Human Rights because his client had a complex form of post-traumatic stress disorder. Yaxley-Lennon was said to be concerned that his mental health would deteriorate on release and he would return to substance abuse to cope. He told the court that his client’s treatment did not amount to torture but was unlawful degrading treatment, and he was being dealt with differently partly because of his ideology. Tom Cross KC, for the justice secretary, said the segregation was not a punishment but a carefully considered “bespoke regime” to keep the prisoner safe. Prison authorities had received intelligence that Yaxley-Lennon had “a mark on his head”, he said. Two prisoners had been planning to assault him to “gain kudos and notoriety”. Another tip suggested that an inmate serving a life sentence would kill Yaxley-Lennon if they were ever placed on the same wing. Mr Cross said Yaxley-Lennon had three hours to exercise and use a gym. He can arrange four two-hour long visits a week from friends and family. Some 120 people have been authorised to see him on 93 visits – more than any other inmate. He has a TV and a DVD player and is receiving hundreds of emails from supporters on a dedicated laptop. While that evidence was given, thickly-bearded Yaxley-Lennon could be seen shaking his head on a video link from prison and occasionally gesticulating with his arms. Mr Justice Chamberlain said he hoped to rule on Friday on whether the case would go ahead to a full challenge. Banzai Japan Music Video Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo. Book Novotel Hotel Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Tommy Robinson loses prison segregation court case
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Tommy Robinson loses prison segregation court case Banzai Japan Music Video The High Court has thrown out an attempt by the far-right activist Stephen Yaxley-Lennon to challenge his jail conditions that have seen him segregated from other inmates. Yaxley-Lennon, also known as Tommy Robinson, argued that segregation at HMP Woodhill in Milton Keynes, was destroying his mental health and breaching his human rights. Mr Justice Chamberlain said there was no evidence the state was trying to “break” him and the court has heard he was being segregated for his own safety as he had a “mark [put] on his head” by other inmates. The judge said Yaxley-Lennon’s claims of degrading treatment fell far short of the evidence needed for the courts to intervene on human rights grounds. Prison governors had segregated Yaxley-Lennon, who is from Luton and led the now defunct anti-Islamic English Defence League (EDL), after concluding other inmates posed a threat and at least one may have been planning to try to kill him. Book Novotel Hotel The activist was jailed for 18 months in October after admitting breaching a court order which had directed him not to repeat lies about a Syrian refugee. Yaxley-Lennon was first held in HMP Belmarsh in south-east London – but he was moved after the jail received a large volume of abusive and racist emails, including threats to the governor, who is a black woman. On 1 November, Yaxley-Lennon entered a closed wing at Woodhill and has been kept apart from other prisoners, but has contact throughout the day with officers and staff. The court has heard he had refused an offer to move to a vulnerable inmates unit, saying he did not want to associate with sex offenders. Substance abuse On Thursday, Alisdair Williamson KC, for Yaxley-Lennon, told the High Court his client had a complex form of post-traumatic stress disorder, exacerbated by attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He argued his client’s mental health would deteriorate and, upon his release on licence in July, he might return to substance abuse to cope. That disclosure was a rare court admission from Yaxley-Lennon that he has been a habitual drug user. Lawyers for the justice secretary said the segregation was neither solitary confinement or a punishment – but a carefully considered plan to keep Yaxley-Lennon safe. Prison governors said two prisoners had been planning to assault him to “gain kudos and notoriety”. Another tip-off suggested that an inmate serving a life sentence would kill Yaxley-Lennon if they were ever placed on the same wing. Dismissing the case, Mr Justice Chamberlain said Yaxley-Lennon’s own barrister had accepted there was no evidence his client had been segregated “for the purpose of breaking his resistance or humiliating or debasing him”. “On the contrary, all the evidence shows [the decision] was taken for his own protection and in the interests of preserving the safety of other prisoners and staff,” he added. “He himself had said, when first detained at HMP Belmarsh, that he had a conflict with the followers of Islam. “It was thus understandable the governor should be concerned that Mr Yaxley-Lennon’s presence might foment unrest or violence between Muslim and non-Muslim prisoners.” Banzai Japan Music Video The court heard there was no evidence Yaxley-Lennon was at risk of self-harm or suicide. The judge ruled the inmate’s situation could not be classed as solitary confinement and did not amount to degrading treatment that would be an unlawful breach of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The judge said his segregation was ameliorated by him being allowed “some three hours per day out of his cell, which is more than twice the time allowed to convicted prisoners held in segregation”. The judge also said Robinson was allowed to use the gym and shower every day, work (“albeit still on his own”), and he could speak to prison officers, healthcare staff and the chaplaincy daily, as well as having a weekly Bible study session. He added that Yaxley-Lennon’s claims he was being denied contact with friends and family were “manifestly not well-founded”. Some 120 people have been authorised to see him in 93 visits – more than any other inmate, the court heard. He had two hours for visits four times a week and cancellations had related to suspected attempts by his supporters to orchestrate social media campaigning relating to his imprisonment. Yaxley-Lennon’s High Court case had meant that an unrelated prosecution, for allegedly refusing to comply with a counter-terrorism search of his phone, had been put back months. He is also facing prosecution having been accused of breaching a stalking prevention order. Book Novotel Hotel Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Tommy Robinson’s ex-wife banned for unaccounted £1m
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Tommy Robinson’s ex-wife banned for unaccounted £1m Banzai Japan Music Video The ex-wife of far-right activist Tommy Robinson has been banned from running a company after failing to file her accounts. The Insolvency Service said Jenna Lennon’s firm Hope & Pride Ltd, which was registered at an address in Luton, had no accounts to explain the £1.1m it had received and paid out. It said: “The liquidator was unable to establish if this money was used for legitimate trading purposes.” Ms Lennon, 39, was the sole director of Hope & Pride when it went into liquidation in September 2023, and has now been disqualified as a company director for seven years. Book Novotel Hotel HM Revenue and Customs estimated the company owed more than £300,000 in unpaid corporation tax. Hope & Pride was incorporated at Companies House in March 2019 and described its business as “other information service activities not elsewhere classified”. At the time, Jenna Lennon was married to Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, but he was not connected to the company. The couple divorced in February 2021, and a month later Yaxley-Lennon declared himself bankrupt. Banzai Japan Music Video ‘Failed in her duties’ The Insolvency Service said it had been unable to “verify the nature” of Hope & Pride’s income and expenditure. A total of £1,178,364 was paid into the company’s account, with £1,133,964 paid out. Additional payments of £151,000, listed on bank accounts as “J Lennon dividends”, were similarly not verified. The company entered liquidation with total liabilities, which Lennon has not disputed, of £327,923. An Insolvency Service spokesperson said: “Directors are legally required to maintain adequate books and records which show and explain their company’s transactions. “This is first and foremost to protect consumers and other businesses who have dealings with the company. “Jenna Lennon failed in her duties as a company director to preserve or maintain adequate accounting records and deliver them to the liquidator. “This has meant the liquidator has been unable to properly investigate the company’s accounts and accurately establish how much was owed to HMRC and other creditors.” Book Novotel Hotel Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
Labour councils call for Bakerloo line funding
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel Labour councils call for Bakerloo line funding Banzai Japan Music Video Four Labour London council leaders have renewed their calls for the government to commit cash to deliver the upgrade and extension of the Bakerloo line. Trains on the 119-year-old line could run every two minutes under Transport for London (TfL) plans to upgrade and extend the Tube route. The proposals, which depend on government funding, would allow 27 trains an hour to run on the line, seven more than the current 20. The Department for Transport (DfT) said TfL got £500m in additional funding at the Budget last October and the government was “still assessing the challenging financial position it faces” before committing any further funding. Book Novotel Hotel The leaders of Brent, Lewisham, Southwark and Westminster councils said Chancellor Rachel Reeves should commit to deliver the transport project in the upcoming 10 Year Infrastructure Strategy and secure initial funding for the scheme in the Spending Review, both expected in June. Brenda Dacres, mayor of Lewisham, said: “For too long south-east London has been excluded from the world-class London Underground network and the benefits of being a well-connected inner London borough. “With Lewisham wages nearly 40% lower on average than neighbouring boroughs, the Bakerloo line extension would be a game-changer for unlocking inclusive growth and opportunities, not just in the South East, but across the UK.” Kieron Williams, leader of Southwark Council, said the Bakerloo extension was a “shovel-ready project” which would create thousands of jobs and boost economic growth by £1.5bn. Banzai Japan Music Video The first phase of the proposed extension—which TfL is currently conducting feasibility studies for—would see new Tube stations at the Old Kent Road and Burgess Park in Southwark. The line would then continue to New Cross Gate and Lewisham. The second phase would take the Bakerloo line beyond Lewisham to Hayes and Beckenham Junction. As part of the planned revamp of the London Underground route, the Bakerloo line’s 53-year-old trains would be replaced. The planned upgrade would support 150,000 jobs in Goole, East Yorkshire—where the new trains would be built—under the current TfL proposals. About 107,000 new homes are predicted to be built around the new Tube stations in London, if the project goes ahead. Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, said without the government’s commitment, the Bakerloo line was “at risk of total failure”. Of the ageing Underground line’s current 25 stations, 10 are in Brent. A DfT spokesperson said: “Further funding for London’s transport network is being considered as part of the upcoming Spending Review.” Book Novotel Hotel Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol
WH Smith name to disappear from High Street after sale
Buy Now An error occurred. Buy Now An error occurred. Book Novotel Hotel WH Smith name to disappear from High Street after sale Banzai Japan Music Video The name WH Smith, a staple of UK town centres since the Victorian era when it became the country’s principal newspaper distributor, is set to disappear from the High Street after the firm agreed to sell its shops to Hobbycraft-owner Modella Capital. The sale does not include the WH Smith brand, its travel shops at airports and railway stations or its outlets in hospitals. The new owner will rebrand the High Street chain as TGJones, but said it would keep the Post Office outlets that operate in many branches. Book Novotel Hotel Modella Capital will take over 480 stores in retail parks, shopping centres and on High Streets including 5,000 staff. Modella said it would be “business as usual” while it worked on changes to the store chain including adding new ranges. However, the new owner said the Post Office and Toys “R” Us outlets currently in WH Smith stores, would remain. It would not comment on whether jobs would be cut following the takeover. The private equity firm specialises in retail and consumer businesses and, as well as buying Hobbycraft, has also invested in Crafters’ Companion and The Original Factory Shop. It said the TGJones brand carried “the same sense of family” as WH Smith, which it described as an “iconic” retail business. Banzai Japan Music Video WH Smith’s first shop was in Little Grosvenor Street, London. It opened its first travel retail store in London’s Euston station in 1848. It still sells papers and magazines, alongside books, sweets and snacks and art supplies. WH Smith group chief executive Carl Cowling said the £76m sale, was “a pivotal moment” for the company, which would now focus exclusively on the travel-related side of the business. “High Street is a good business; it is profitable and cash generative with an experienced and high-performing management team,” he said. “However, given our rapid international growth, now is the right time for a new owner to take the High Street business forward.” The travel division operates more than 1,200 stores in 32 countries. Nicholas Found at the consultancy, Retail Economics, said conditions on the High Street were “increasingly unforgiving”. As a result in recent years WH Smith’s travel arm had become its “engine room”, he said. WH Smith’s travel business contributed 75% of the group’s revenue and 85% of its trading profit in 2024. “Its product mix, which includes food, beverages and tech, is better suited to higher-margin, impulse-driven purchases in busy transit hubs,” he added. Book Novotel Hotel Banzai Japan Social Media Fumi Fujisaki Idol Riko Ueno Idol Rino Ibusuki Idol Yunagi Nino Idol Shiori Fujisaki Idol Kana Ichinose Idol Hoshino Arice Idol Sasa Sasagawa Idol Kosaka Yuu Idol Tsukumo Aira Idol Maika Ando Idol Yuuki Mochimaru Idol