The Tommy Robinson associate behind Portsmouth and Dover anti-migrant protests

The Tommy Robinson associate behind Portsmouth and Dover anti-migrant protests After being released from prison for attempted kidnapping, Danny Tommo, real name Daniel Thomas, claimed to have turned his life around – and now helps organise protests under the banner Patriot Platform - Bookmark “Something is about to go down and it’s about to send a f***ing shockwave,” said Danny Tommo, real name Daniel Thomas, in a firm rallying call to dozens of white men assembled in a housing estate park. As the tattooed 37-year-old –wearing a skin tight t-shirt – set out his vision for his anti-immigration movement called Patriot Platform, every soundbite was met with a cheer from the gathered audience. The patriotic army, Mr Thomas explained, was a new venture for men concerned over the safety of women and children. It came, he conceded, after his and others’ decade-long work in flying flags and “walking down roads” had not fulfilled his ambition. This new approach was laid bare at the weekend, when around 300 masked demonstators appeared in Dover on Saturday morning, blocking roads and access to the port. “It’s time! Protect our country – and, more importantly, our women and children! This is our warning!” said Mr Thomas in a triumphant video from the protest, since widely condemned by all mainstream political parties. Less than 48 hours later, members of Patriot Platform descended upon Portsmouth for a second protest after around 140 migrants were rescued off the Hampshire coast. In a bizarre rallying call live-streamed on YouTube, Mr Thomas filmed himself and a bare-chested associate running along Portsmouth beach in a bid to stop landing migrants from boarding coaches. Passing waiting emergency workers and coastguard, he shouted: “You know who I am, my name is Danny Tommo, you saw what I did in Dover and if you don’t stop right now I’m calling 1,000 men to come to this place.” Who is Danny Tommo? Describing himself on social media as a “devoted Christian, proud dad and entrepreneur”, Mr Thomas has risen to prominence in the far-right scene, first emerging in the media as the bodyguard for Tommy Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, eight years ago, to now leading the Patriot Platform movement. Little is known about his early life, although it is reported that he was a former tank driver with the King’s Royal Hussars, before being medically discharged ahead of active service. He is also said to have worked as bricklayer, sales and marketing manager and to have run a web design company. In 2016, it was reported that he was jailed for two years after being convicted of attempted kidnapping. Portsmouth Crown Court heard how Mr Thomas and two accomplices went “mob-handed” to the victim’s home after wrongly accusing him of stealing drugs. Recorder William Mousley QC told them: “Go and serve your sentences, learn the lesson and for God’s sake don’t get involved in anything as stupid again.” According to Mr Thomas, when speaking to The Telegraph, he turned his life around after coming out of prison. “I now go to church every Sunday and pray for forgiveness,” he told the newspaper. But his involvement in political movements only seemed to increase. In 2018, he was pictured alongside Mr Robinson at a planning event for a Ukip “Brexit Betrayal” rally. A year later, he was pictured among the “yellow vest” participants of a pro-Brexit rally in London. As his role as an activist grew, so did his following on social media platforms such as X and on YouTube where he regularly filmed from anti-migrant protests and St George’s Day celebrations. He also posted interviews and viewpoints on Mr Robinson, often showing his support as the ex-English Defence League founder faced frequent court battles. More recent clips showed Mr Thomas crossing the English Channel to France, working alongside Ryan Bridge, founder of the Raise the Colours movement, in attempting to disrupt migrants coming to the UK. One video, which showed the pair uncovering a stored migrant boat, featured the tag line Operation Overlord – the code name for the Normandy landings in the Second World War. However, it appears Mr Thomas has now split from Mr Bridge in creating his new movement. Recent videos have showed him delivering speeches on the group to large groups of men in Essex, Leicester and the ‘North West’. Yet despite his apparent rise in popularity, Mr Thomas has plainly said he expects one day to be “taken out”, calling it a “sacrifice”. Speaking to presenter Dan Wootton in August, he said if he got jailed he could be targeted due to his association with Mr Robinson. What is Patriot Platform? Patriot Platform was launched in June by Mr Thomas, who described it as one of the biggest “pushbacks” since the Second World War. He has called it an “army of patriots” on a campaign to protect women and children against illegal migration. “The reason a lot of people are getting involved in what we are doing is because by message is very clear,” he told Mr Wootton. “For far too long the men of this country have believed that social media and the pub are the only places they can vent their anger and I’m persuading them that I have a different route they can take.” Christianity is at the forefront of the group, claims Mr Thomas, who said the movement was started by a group of church-goers in London. Mr Thomas said the campaign did not need to be violent and has said it is not far-right. He has also been keen to highlight the difference between Patriot Platform and the EDL. He said his movement had clear rules, including a ban on alcohol, drugs, shouting and flag waving. The group appears to be split into regional groups, including Swindon Patriots, Coventry Patriots, Black Country and Staffordshire Patriots. On its national website is the slogan: “Together, we will take our country back.” On a fundraiser page, which has brought the group almost £10,000, it lists boats and buses among the required equipment needed. “These are not thugs, football hooligans,” said Mr Thomas. “These are men that are brothers, husbands, cousins... and they are looking around and realising that if we don’t actually stand up and do something we will lose this country.” Police in Dover appeared to be caught by surprise by Mr Thomas’ supporters, who arrived on Saturday morning chanting anti-immigration slogans while blocking roads in the area. In Portsmouth, masked demonstrators again blocked roads while being encouraged by Mr Thomas. The group only left after police put down a dispersal order until Monday evening. A government spokesman said: “We condemn the intimidating and thuggish behaviour. The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to our democracy, but it must never cross a line into disorder. We thank the emergency services who are working to safely manage this situation.”