Wife of Tory Councillor Lucy Connolly Jailed for Racial Hate Post
Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor from West Northamptonshire, has been sentenced to 31 months in prison for inciting racial hatred. The 41-year-old posted a series of inflammatory messages on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), calling for violence against asylum seekers housed in UK hotels. One of her most disturbing posts called for setting fire to these hotels, a message that reached over 300,000 people before it was deleted. She further demanded "mass deportations," adding, "If that makes me racist, so be it."
The controversial post was made shortly after a tragic knife attack in Southport, where three girls lost their lives, a situation already fraught with tension. The judge, Melbourne Inman KC, emphasized that Connolly was fully aware of the volatile atmosphere at the time and that her post only fueled further disorder. He made it clear that her actions were meant to incite violence, resulting in serious consequences.
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Connolly, a childminder by profession, later admitted to intending to stir up racial hatred and was unapologetic in her private messages, even joking that the tweet had “bitten me on the arse, lol.” Her attempt to minimize the gravity of her actions by suggesting she would play "the mental health card" if arrested added to the court's concern over her lack of remorse.
During the court proceedings, Connolly's husband, Councillor Raymond Connolly, attended in the public gallery, though he has refrained from resigning over his wife’s actions. Connolly will serve at least 40% of her sentence before being released on licence.
The case has drawn attention to the rise of online hate speech and the real-world consequences it can trigger. Authorities hope this sentencing will act as a strong deterrent, reinforcing that hate-driven posts, especially those with violent implications, will not be tolerated in the UK.
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