Members of Unite Against Fascism are celebrating after a campaign mobilised people in the North West to stop far right leader Tommy Robinson being elected as an MEP for the North West Region.

As the count took place, campaigners from Stand Up to Racism and Unite Against Fascism held a rally against racism and fascism outside Manchester Convention Centre (photo attached.) Conceding defeat, Robinson left the building early, failing to win the low percentage required to get a seat.

Stand Up to Racism (SUTR) and Unite Against Fascism (UAF), launched the campaign, with the support of trades unions and others, on 25th April - the same night Robinson announced he was standing.

Nahella Ashraf from Stand Up To Racism said, ‘We've pushed the far right back and we're very pleased with the results.

‘I'd like to thank the hundreds of activists that came out across the North West to make this happen. We have shown that there is no place in mainstream politics for a fascist.

‘The campaign Stand Up To Racism and Unite Against Fascism ran showed that we can pull people together to regardless of how they voted in the referendum.

‘However, we cannot be complacent. We know that all the candidates running for the Tory leadership campaign will use racism to score political points.

‘We also know that the Tory austerity agenda that attacks working class people, gives the far right space to grow. We will continue to stand up to racism wherever it rears it's ugly head."

Paul Jenkins, North West Regional Organiser for Unite Against Fascism said, 'We are absolutely delighted that the fascist 'Tommy Robinson' has been stopped from being elected as an MEP for the North West Region.

"Stand Up to Racism and Unite Against Fascism launched our campaign to stop Robinson - supported by trades unions and politicians in the North West - on 25th April, the same night that he announced he was standing as an MEP candidate.

"We have continuously campaigned - to stop him from being elected- over the past month, with mass leafleting, stalls, rallies, protests against him, and other activities - across the whole region: in Cheshire, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Merseyside.

"His defeat was not inevitable - he only needed around eight per cent of the vote to win a seat. We are proud of our campaign - by mobilising the anti-racist majority against this fascist, we have been able to stop him."