A debate erupted on GB News when presenter Michelle Dewberry challenged guest Jo Phillips over claims about Lucy Connolly’s inflammatory social media post.
The exchange centred on whether Ms Connolly’s tweet had directly prompted violent attacks on hotels housing asylum seekers.
Ms Phillips insisted that Ms Connolly had encouraged people to torch hotels occupied by “human beings”, stating: “She incited people to go and burn down hotels with people, human beings in them.” However, Michelle immediately pressed for proof connecting the social media message to actual violence.
“What’s your evidence that those people who trotted off to set fire to those buildings were incited by her?” Michelle demanded during the on-air confrontation.
The pair clashed over Lucy Connolly
|
GB NEWS
Ms Phillips acknowledged the absence of proof, responding: “There is no evidence.” This admission prompted Michelle to question why such claims were being made without supporting facts.
The presenter pressed further, asking: “What is the link that anyone looked at Lucy Connolly’s tweet and said, ‘I’m really bored tonight.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
‘This absolute random I don’t know has told me to set fire to them all, therefore I’m going to go and do that’.”
Ms Phillips maintained her position, stating: “That’s not the point. The fact is, she put out a tweet inciting, which she admitted, racial hatred and violence.” She added that Ms Connolly had previously posted “revolting, racist comments” and noted she had completed fewer than half of her prison term.
Lucy Connolly was jailed for a social media post | X
The 42-year-old mother of three was freed from HMP Peterborough on Thursday morning, having completed approximately 40 per cent of her prison term.
She received a 31-month sentence after admitting to publishing threatening material on social media platforms.
Her inflammatory message appeared online shortly after the tragic Southport incident that claimed three young lives. The post urged followers to torch buildings accommodating asylum seekers whilst demanding immediate mass deportations.
The perpetrator of the Southport killings was subsequently identified as Cardiff-born Axel Rudakubana. Ms Connolly’s husband holds a position on Northampton Town Council.
Lucy Connolly was jailed for 31 months at Birmingham Crown Court for stirring up racial hatred on X | Northamptonshire PoliceAn attempt to reduce her sentence failed when the Court of Appeal dismissed her application in May. She now remains on licence for the duration of her original term.
The inflammatory post that led to her imprisonment stated: “Mass deportation now. Set fire to all the fucking hotels full of the bastards for all I care. While you’re at it, take the treacherous government and politicians with them.”
Court documents revealed the message reached 310,000 viewers and was shared 940 times before deletion. Birmingham Crown Court heard she later messaged on WhatsApp: “The raging tweet about burning down hotels has bit me on the arse lol.”
Her release has sparked fierce political debate. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage declared her “a symbol of Keir Starmer’s authoritarian, broken, two-tier Britain.” Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the severity of her sentence compared to those given for physical violence during the riots.
The Prime Minister defended the judicial process, stating he supports independent courts whilst opposing incitement to violence.
