Tommy Robinson, the co-founder and former leader of the far-right English Defence League (EDL) has indicated that he will support Ukip in the next general election, saying that the anti-EU party “understands the threat Islam poses 100%”.

Explaining where his political loyalties lie, Robinson, 32, whose real name is Stephen Yaxley Lennon, said: “I’m a working class lad, I come from parents who were immigrants and generations of Labour voters. I should be Labour but they don’t represent me. What we have now is people like me – working class people – moving towards Ukip without knowing what Ukip is really about.”

He continued: “But we do know we agree about the EU and immigration. I’m sure every other of their policies will go against working men like me, but they understand us. I don’t really even have a problem with immigration, as I said, I’m the son of immigrants, but it’s this Islamic ideology that everyone else is failing to address.”

Pressed on his understanding of Ukip’s stance to the Muslim faith, Robinson hinted at back-door communications with the anti-EU party: “I’m not at liberty to go into details but all I know is that 100% Ukip fully understand the threat of Islamic ideology.”

Robinson left the EDL in October 2013, supposedly because he had concerns about the “dangers of far-right extremism” and doubted the productiveness of the marches he used to organise. However, he has now indicated he will return next summer: “I wouldn’t rule out organising these kind of marches in the UK but I’m on license so I can’t contact the EDL. On 22nd July I have my freedom of speech back.”

Despite spending time with “moderate Muslims”, and even working briefly with the anti-radicalisation thinktank the Quilliam Foundation, Robinson is convinced that a divide between Muslims and non-Muslims will lead to conflict in Britain. “The UK is heading to civil war. Whether it happens in five, 10 or 20 years, there will be bloodshed. I left the EDL and went and spoke to moderate Muslims but I really don’t believe this issue will be solved, it’s too big. I have done a lot of searching and there’s no answer. It terrifies me. Things are just getting worse.”

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The sentencing of eight English Defence League supporters for violent disorder was temporarily halted on Monday after one of them demanded to be updated on the Sydney cafe siege.

Judge Richard Bond briefly adjourned the case after being verbally abused, urged to “pass proper sentences” on Islamic extremists, and asked: “Any news on the Australian hostages?”

Some of the defendants walked around the dock at Birmingham crown court during the outbursts, which also included chants of “No surrender to the Taliban.”

Judge Bond had already sentenced three of the men when one of them shouted “If there were proper sentences for extremists, the EDL wouldn’t be here” and another asked for news of events in Australia. The judge then left the courtroom for several minutes, before returning to continue to address the defendants and explain their sentences.

Among those in the dock over violent scenes at an EDL rally in Birmingham city centre was Otis Bloodworth [pictured], who attended the protest event in July 2013 wearing Union Jack boxing gloves and shorts. CCTV footage played to the court showed Bloodworth, of Skegness, Lincolnshire, punching a man who was being led away from the event by stewards.

The 35-year-old, who has 43 previous convictions dating back to 1997, was arrested and taken to a police station in March after an appeal for information on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme. When questioned by officers as to whether he had any medical conditions, Bloodworth said he had “Islamophobia” and refused to be represented by a Muslim solicitor.

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