The army is in the process of discharging a soldier who appeared in a video with ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson.

The soldier is said to have had a long record of disciplinary problems.

According to a source, this ‘was the straw that broke the camel’s back’, Sky News reports.

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The 35-year-old former leader of the English Defence League (EDL) posted images to his Facebook page on Monday which included a video of young men in camouflage uniform chanting his name and cheering.


Alongside his pictures, Robinson, who met the trainees at Watford Gap motorway services, wrote: ‘It’s the most honourable morning I’ve ever had.’



He also said: ‘A moment like this makes it all worth while. Today I met real British heroes.’

The army said it was aware of the footage and that it was ‘investigating the circumstances surrounding this’.

Major General Rupert Jones, who will shortly take up the appointment of Standing Joint Force Commander, added: ”The British Army is absolutely clear that we do not tolerate extremist views and we don’t tolerate extremist behaviour.

The army is in the process of discharging a soldier who appeared in a video with ex-EDL leader Tommy Robinson (Picture: Facebook/Tommy Robinson)

‘I am very confident that is a widely held position across the Army. Much of the reaction to that incident from our people tells you that.’

There has been wide condemnation of the images, including from the Muslim Council of Britain, which accused Robinson of ‘remaining silent on the sacrifices Muslims and others made in the two world wars’.

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Maj Gen Jones added: ‘The Army absolutely encourages diversity in our teams. We are stronger for diversity – we have very high expectations and standards and we will comply with those.’

Maj Gen Jones also tried to play down ongoing concerns about Army recruitment and staffing levels.

Between April 2016 and March 2017, 8,194 soldiers joined the British Army, but 9,775 left.

Regardless of numbers, Maj Gen Jones was confident the Army can fulfil its duties.

The unidentified soldier is said to have had a long record of disciplinary problems.(Picture: Facebook/Tommy Robinson)

He said: ‘The key thing is: have we got the manpower to meet all of our operational commitments? And the answer to that is an undoubted ‘yes’.’

Maj Gen Jones denied reports of soldiers previously dismissed for drug offences being offered large payments to return to the forces.

He said: ‘The Secretary of State has been really clear on this: the British Army is not going to bring back people into the military who have been caught for drug offences.

‘The bonuses for coming back into the military are very carefully targeted to draw back in people with very specialist skills. It’s really targeting that.”

Maj Gen Jones will join 120 troops at a reception at the Palace of Westminster on Wednesday afternoon.

Troops have been invited to Parliament by James Gray, the Conservative MP for North Wiltshire, for a welcome home reception to honour the Army’s deployments in 55 nations around the world during the last 12 months.

Maj Gen Jones said: ‘It’s really important for British people to see what the military are doing on their behalf.

‘We live in an era of constant competition – the threats are diversifying and we cannot underestimate those threats, and I think it’s important that the British public understand that.’

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