The English Defence League is having a difficult time. Two weeks ago, a rally outside the town hall in Walthamstow, north-east London, wasthrown into disarray. Supporters en route to the event were obstructed by demonstrators from groups such as Unite Against Fascism and We Are Waltham Forest, who staged a sit-down protest at a key junction between Hoe Street and Forest Road. The EDL contingent had to be redirected through the backstreets of Walthamstow, receiving abuse from local people and anti-fascist protesters as they passed.

At the same time, another group of 400 anti-EDL activists broke through police lines and occupied the intended rally point. There they stumbled upon the EDL leader, Tommy Robinson, who had arrived early with a handful of supporters to set up the sound system. Tensions rose as police did their best to contain the situation. Forced to dismantle the equipment after a standoff, a visibly shaken Robinson was witnessed having a blazing row with his closest colleague, Kevin Carroll, who despite possessing a criminal record will be standing as a candidate in the Bedfordshire Police Commissioner elections later this year. Twenty English Defence League supporters were arrested; the rally was cancelled.

On Monday, the EDL made an attempt to recover some dignity by announcing that the Walthamstow demonstration had been rescheduled for October 27. Predictably enough, opposing groups wasted no time inpromising a robust counter-protest.

And so it goes on. Yet despite the apparent indefatigability of the EDL, a27-minute video message released this week by Tommy Robinson offers a fascinating insight into the pressure he is under, as well as the infighting that is threatening to tear his movement apart. Continue reading on the Telegraph website