UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Reform MP Sarah Pochin says jailed childminder Lucy Connolly is “not a hero” but a victim of two-tier justice, highlighting calls for prison reform.
As reported by The Telegraph, Sarah Pochin described Lucy Connolly as “not a hero.”
Ms Connolly was freed last month after receiving the longest sentence for a single social media post. She got 31 months in custody for an X post about illegal migrants made after the Southport killings.
What did Sarah Pochin say about Lucy Connolly and two-tier justice?
Sarah Pochin, elected Reform MP in May for Runcorn and Helsby, described the 42-year-old childminder as a “victim of two-tier justice.”
She said,
“The judiciary has been overtaken by the political establishment. I don’t think she’s a hero. I think what’s happened is it’s an example of two-tier justice.”
Ms Pochin stated,
“It’s an example, in my view, of where the judiciary has been overtaken by the political establishment, and I feel very strongly that politics and the judiciary should be kept separate. And that’s why I resigned as a magistrate to fight the by-election for Reform UK. You cannot mix the two.”
Earlier this week, Ms Connolly backed Reform and expressed her intention to work with the party on prison reforms.
Describing it as “very valuable,” Ms Pochin welcomed Ms Connolly’s contribution.
She said,
“I’ll be very much looking forward to talking with Lucy myself. As you know, the whole justice brief is an area I’m very interested in and knowledgeable about.”
Ms Pochin stated,
“So I will very much be looking forward to talking to Lucy about her experience inside a women’s prison. It will be very valuable when setting policies.”
What did Lucy Connolly say about prisons and Reform?
Last summer, Ms Connolly admitted posting false information claiming Axel Rudakubana, the Southport dance party murderer, was an illegal immigrant.
She urged for “mass deportation now”, adding,
“Set fire to all the f—ing hotels full of the b——s for all I care… If that makes me racist so be it.”
Ms Connolly deleted the post after three hours and apologised, but it had already been viewed by 310,000 people.
Her sentence has been cited by critics as evidence of “two-tier justice” after serious offenders received lighter punishments.
During a podcast, Ms Connolly said,
“I’d really love to use my experience to work with, hopefully, Reform in the future and overhaul the prison system, especially the women’s estate.”
She stated,
“It doesn’t work, it’s a waste of all of our money. We could let 80 per cent of the women population out of prison and none of us would be in any danger.”
When questioned about her vote in last year’s election, Ms Connolly, wife of a Tory councillor, responded, “Reform. It didn’t go down too well in our house.”
She suggested she might stand as a Reform candidate in a future general election.
Ms Connolly added,
“Who knows? I didn’t ever think I’d end up in prison, so who knows what’s going to happen in the future […] Nigel Farage for prime minister.”
What did Keir Starmer say about Lucy Connolly’s jail sentence?
Commenting on Ms Connolly’s jail sentence last summer, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said he supports free speech but is “equally against incitement to violence” toward others.
He added,
“I will always support the action taken by our police and courts to keep our streets and people safe.”
What did Labour say about Ms Connolly’s appearance at the Reform conference?
Labour slammed Ms Connolly’s appearance at Reform’s conference in a statement issued as the two-day event concluded.
A Labour spokesman added,
“Farage has boasted about professionalising his party, but he’s platformed an anti-vaxxer, a woman who called for hotels to be burnt down, and a frankly bizarre musical performance of ‘Insomniac’ from one of his mayors. They’re just not serious.”
What did Henry Smith say about joining Reform UK?
Henry Smith, once a Conservative MP and a Brexiteer, became Reform’s newest defector this past weekend. He served as MP for Crawley from 2010 to 2024.
Mr Smith said,
“The British people face serious existential threats to their well-being from uncontrolled migration, economic decline, cultural attacks, compromised sovereignty and civil liberties violations – all outrageously promoted by the current Labour Government against the people.”
He added,
“I joined the Conservative Party in 1984, inspired by Margaret Thatcher – for me, her principles continue, and country has always come before party, but now only Reform UK can save our country. The optimism shown at [the] Birmingham conference deserves my enthusiastic support.”
Which social media post led to Lucy Connolly’s sentence?
Lucy Connolly posted on X and later deleted this tweet,
“Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f—ing hotels full of the b——s for all I care, while you’re at it, take the treacherous government politicians with them. I feel physically sick knowing what these [Southport] families will now have to endure. If that makes me racist, so be it.”
She added,
“FS, I get they’re angry. I’m f—ing raging, however, this is playing right into their hands. I do not want civil unrest on our streets. Tommy Robinson is not going to say, but this is not going to get anyone anywhere. Protests, yes, but not riots.”
What did Charlie Kirk say about free speech in the UK?
Charlie Kirk, an ally of Donald Trump, claimed free speech is “dead” in the UK, highlighting Lucy Connolly’s jail term.
He stated,
“As of today, Lucy Connolly is going to jail for two-and-a-half years in this country for a social media post that she apologised for and deleted… That is not a free speech battle at all.”
Mr Kirk added,
“You should be allowed to say outrageous things. You should be allowed to say contrarian things. Free speech is a birthright that you gave us, and you guys decided not to codify it, and now it’s – poof! – It is gone.”
Key details about the Online Safety Act in the UK
The Online Safety Act requires social media to block illegal and harmful content, with fines up to £18 million for breaches. Platforms must prevent children from accessing pornography and harmful content, raising privacy and censorship concerns.
The Act also criminalises cyberflashing, encouraging self-harm, and spreading harmful false information.