Lucy Connolly Jailed for Social Media Post

Lucy Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor, was sentenced to 31 months in prison for a controversial social media post related to riots following the tragic killing of three children in Southport. Meanwhile, a recent Savanta poll among Conservative councillors revealed that almost half believe neither Robert Jenrick nor Kemi Badenoch can win the next election, highlighting significant dissatisfaction with the leadership options. Michael Gove has criticized Jenrick for appearing too much like a 'Tory boy', favoring Badenoch for her courage and performance, although he refrained from openly endorsing her. As the leadership contest progresses, Badenoch remains the bookmakers' favorite, yet polling indicates that Jenrick could potentially secure more parliamentary seats for the Conservatives if elected. The leadership race is marked by an unusual level of apathy, with many councillors indicating they may not vote in the contest, a sentiment not seen in previous elections. Both candidates are expected to appear in a televised event, although they will not debate directly, further complicating the contest's dynamics.