Former Tory Councillor's Wife Lucy Connolly Expected Released After 31-Month Hate Speech Sentence

Lucy Connolly, wife of Conservative councillor Raymond Connolly, is set to be released from prison after serving a 31-month sentence for inciting racial hatred. She was jailed for a tweet posted on the day of the Southport terror attack, which called for "mass deportation" and arson against hotels, a post that was viewed 310,000 times before she deleted it. Connolly pleaded guilty at Birmingham Crown Court and her sentence was handed down last October. The punishment has sparked criticism, with some calling it overly harsh and alleging "two-tier justice," but Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer defended the sentencing, emphasizing the importance of independent courts and opposing incitement to violence. The case prompted debate during Prime Minister's Questions, where Starmer supported the police and courts' actions to maintain public safety. Campaigners and some public figures have labeled her imprisonment a national scandal, noting she quickly deleted and apologized for the tweet.