Tommy Robinson welcomed at US State Department

Far-right activist Tommy Robinson has visited the US State Department in Washington DC for a tour.

In a post on X, Robinson, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, said he had the "privilege of an invite" to the State Department and was in the country "making alliances and friendships".

Robinson was hosted by a senior US official Joe Rittenhouse, who said in an X post he was "honored to have free speech warrior" Robinson at the State Department.

The BBC has asked the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office for comment.

Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer's spokesperson said Robinson was "not a representative of the UK".

The State Department told the BBC Robinson visited the foreign policy branch of the US government "in an unofficial capacity".

Labour MP Alex Ballinger said he was disappointed the State Department had chosen to host Robinson, whom he called a "far-right agitator".

"Having worked alongside US diplomats for many years, I suspect many of them will be embarrassed about it too," Ballinger said.

Robinson is a prominent political campaigner and has a history of criminal convictions, including for assault and mortgage fraud.

In 2024, he was jailed for 18 months after admitting contempt of court by repeating false claims against a Syrian refugee.

Robinson has garnered the backing of high-profile conservative American politicians and the billionaire businessman Elon Musk has voiced support for him.

Last year, Musk wrote "Free Tommy Robinson!" in a post on X.

Senior figures in the Trump administration, including the president himself, have accused UK authorities of stifling free speech.

The State Department's 2024 human rights report criticised the UK, saying the human rights situation in the country had worsened.

The report said there were credible reports of "serious restrictions on freedom of expression, including enforcement of or threat of criminal or civil laws in order to limit expression".

The Liberal Democrats said the Trump administration hosting Robinson "must be a wake-up call".

The party's foreign affairs spokesman, Calum Miller, said the UK government should include the US in its inquiry into foreign interference in British politics.

"We cannot stand by while the likes of Trump and Musk meddle in our democracy," Miller said.