Overview

• Lucy Connolly's appeal to reduce her 31-month prison sentence for a tweet inciting racial hatred was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on May 20, 2025.
• The court found no valid basis to argue that the sentence was excessive, rejecting Connolly's claims of misunderstanding her guilty plea and mitigating circumstances.
• Connolly's tweet, posted hours after the Southport murders in July 2024, called for violence against asylum seekers and government officials, garnering over 310,000 views before being deleted.
• The ruling has drawn criticism from public figures and free speech advocates, who argue the sentence is disproportionate compared to penalties for violent and sexual crimes.
• Prime Minister Keir Starmer defended the sentence, emphasizing the distinction between protecting free speech and preventing incitement to violence.