FAR-RIGHT businessman Stephen Yaxley-Lennon – infamous as “Tommy Robinson” – has announced that he has joined the Conservative Party following its general election victory.

In a message to his subscribers on Telegram, an online messaging service popular with the far right, Mr Yaxley-Lennon wrote: “OK, I have just joined the Conservative Party.

“Good work everyone that went out and voted for the Conservatives today.

“We have just thwarted our country becoming a socialist dump.”

The anti-Islam activist has also praised Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s adviser Dominic Cummings, telling him: “Your country salutes you.”

Mr Yaxley-Lennon was a founder member of the English Defence League, an anti-Islam street organisation, and was also an adviser to Ukip’s Gerard Batten when the latter led the hard-right party.

He was a supporter of Mr Johnson throughout the election campaign.

Speaking in November outside the High Court, where he was awaiting a trial for libelling a Syrian child refugee, Mr Yaxley-Lennon said: “Everyone should vote for Boris Johnson.

“If we want Brexit … if we believe in democracy, we have to have Brexit, so yeah, go Boris!”

In the same interview, he said he was “so happy” at Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage’s campaigning for Britain’s withdrawal from the EU, adding: “He should attack the Labour heartlands.”

The Tories were backed by other far-right figures, such as anti-Islam commentator Katie Hopkins and the Britain First group, which is known for its uniformed marches and “direct action” attacks on halal butchers’ shops.