A petition demanding the release of Lucy Connolly has surged past 100,000 signatures within 24 hours of its launch.
Created by ex-Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe on Friday, the petition calls for the Government “to urgently review the possible penalties for non-violent offences arising from social media posts, including the use of prison”.
Britons flocked to support the wife of West Northamptonshire Conservative councillor Raymond Connolly, who was jailed after admitting inciting racial hatred in a now-deleted post about burning down asylum hotels.
After passing 10,000 signatures just three hours after launch, the petition is set to receive a response from the Government.
With the number now standing at 10 times that figure, a debate in Westminster will be scheduled to take place.
Upon launch of the petition, Lowe wrote on X: “People should not be in prison for stupid social media posts – this petition is pushing for Government to urgently review the penalties.
“Lucy Connolly, and others, should not be in prison. This petition has the support of her family.”
Speaking to GB News, Lowe added: “I think most people agree that this was a miscarriage of justice. The petition will hopefully confirm this.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Lucy Connolly had her application to appeal rejected
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Petitions are given six months to reach 100,000 signatures, leaving Lowe until December 20 to force a debate.
In the petition’s description, Lowe wrote: “We call on the Government to urgently review the possible penalties for non-violent offences arising from social media posts, including the use of prison.
“There is serious public concern about the proportionality of sentencing in cases involving opinion-based online speech.
“We believe imprisoning individuals for posts on social media sets a dangerous precedent and raises wider questions about freedom of expression, proportionality in sentencing, and the misuse of limited prison resources.
“We consider that alternative sanctions, such as fines or community service, would be more appropriate.”
The petition passed 100,000 signatures just after 10.30am on Saturday. Less than 24 hours after launch
Petition.Parliament
In an update after passing the threshold for a debate, Lowe wrote on X: “We hit the required 100k signatures in less than 24 hours – incredible effort.
“It is morally repugnant to imprison individuals for foolish social media posts, particularly a young mother like Lucy Connolly.
“Thank you for your support – now we take our campaign to Parliament.”
Eight other MPs have also backed Lowe’s Early Day Motion, including Labour MP Mary Glindon, Tory MP Sir Gavin Williamson, and Tory MP Andrew Rosindell.
Lucy Connolly was sentenced to 31 months in prison at Birmingham Crown Court for inciting racial hatred against asylum seekers on Twitter on the day of the Southport attacks
PA
Connolly, 42, was sentenced to 31 months in prison at Birmingham Crown Court back in May after posting on X: “Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f**king hotels full of the b******s for all I care … If that makes me racist, so be it.”
Despite removing the post within four hours, the Northamptonshire childminder’s original post was viewed 310,000 times and likely thousands more via screenshots.
A number of high-profile politicians have weighed in on Connolly’s jail term, describing it as another example of two-tier justice.
Donald Trump was informed of the case via American conservative Charlie Kirk.
“I’m going to bring this up to Marco Rubio. I’m going to send him a text,” Kirk told GB News.
Connolly’s appeal was dismissed by the Court of Appeal last month by Lord Justice Holroyde.
In a written judgment, he said: “There is no arguable basis on which it could be said that the sentence imposed by the judge was manifestly excessive.
“The application for leave to appeal against sentence, therefore, fails and is refused.”
