Overview

• The 42-year-old left HMP Peterborough on Thursday morning after reaching the standard 40% release point of her 31-month term.
• She pleaded guilty last October to inciting racial hatred after an X message calling for arson against hotels housing asylum seekers that drew about 310,000 views before deletion.
• A May attempt to cut the sentence was rejected by the Court of Appeal, which ruled there was no arguable case that it was manifestly excessive.
• Her release revived political divisions, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer defending the courts’ handling as necessary against incitement and Kemi Badenoch calling the punishment disproportionate.
• Connolly will complete her sentence under supervision and is expected to give limited media interviews on Friday, according to her family and reporters outside the prison.