Woman Jailed Over Hate Tweet Released from Prison
Northamptonshire, Lucy Connolly, the 42-year-old wife of a Conservative councillor, has been released from HMP Peterborough today after serving approximately ten months of her 31-month sentence for inciting racial hatred through a social media post.
Background of the Case
In October 2024, Connolly was convicted at Birmingham Crown Court for encouraging arson against hotels housing asylum seekers, following the highly charged public reaction to the Southport murders. The now-deleted post was widely seen and condemned, and she had also authored other posts deemed racist, some predating the Southport incident.
Sentence & Appeal Outcome
Her 31-month sentence was imposed after she pled guilty to inciting racial hatred, with 40% of it to be served in custody. An appeal in May was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, standing firm on the original sentence.
Release & Public Reaction
Connolly was released this morning and will serve the remaining portion of her sentence under licence. The case ignited fierce public debate:
Critics, including Tory politician Kemi Badenoch and the Free Speech Union, labeled the sentence as overly harsh, “harsher than the sentences handed down for bricks thrown at police or actual rioting,” Badenoch stated.
In contrast, Labour leader Keir Starmer supported the court’s decision, emphasizing that free speech must not extend to incitement of violence.
Legal experts reaffirmed that the sentence was consistent with hate crime legislation and sentencing guidelines.
Broader Fallout
International attention followed the appeal’s denial, with the U.S. State Department stating it was “monitoring” the situation in light of free speech concerns.