Free speech is dead and buried in the UK. The 41-year-old mother-of-three and childminder Lucy Connolly pleaded guilty yesterday to inciting racial hatred after she shared a post on X following the murders of three schoolgirls in Southport. The judge says she could face a “significant” prison sentence.
There have been many examples of political prisoners in British prisons. Many have said unacceptable things, and some have also been violent. But many have also just let their emotions run away with them and quickly deleted what they have shared. Lucy Connolly is one of these. Outraged by the monstrous knife attack that led to the deaths of three young girls in the town of Southport near Liverpool on 29 July, she wrote on X that she wanted mass deportations of migrants and for hotels housing migrants to be burned. “If that makes me racist, so be it.
The post was deleted shortly afterwards. The 26-year-old father of three, Tyler Kay, has already been sentenced to 38 months in prison for, among other things, sharing Connolly’s post.
Connolly is married to Raymond Connolly, who represents the Tory party in West Northamptonshire. He told the press yesterday that he was relieved the trial was over and that it had been traumatic for his wife and three children.
«Upset housewife»
Lucy was an “upset housewife” and “just a middle-aged mum” who had been dragged into the situation by misinformation circulating online, Raymond explained. In the hours following the Southport attack, rumours circulated that a migrant had carried out the killings, but it quickly emerged that it was a British-born son of immigrants who had done it.
Now Lucy must serve her sentence, which is expected next month. Her three children and husband will have to get used to the idea that they will be separated, perhaps for years, because their mother and spouse shared a rash and hateful post on X. Words she didn’t mean, says the man, but who hasn’t thought about it when they hear about attacks on innocent people, attacks that are only increasing and that we are not allowed to protest against?
A few days ago, a 38-year-old man was killed by a man with a machete while sitting in his wheelchair in Clapton, London. Every day there are knife attacks we don’t know about. British society is becoming more brutal, but if you show emotion apart from empathy and good thoughts, you become a criminal. Speculation, anger and rude reactions will be dealt with severely. Those who don’t understand the drawing will be held up for ridicule, as examples for the rest of the population.
I have to admit that I’ve found myself worrying if I’ve crossed the line on social media, as I live in the UK. Before, the big fear was being cancelled by friends and acquaintances, and for many, employers. It’s hard enough not being allowed to be part of a group of friends because you think men can’t be women and children shouldn’t be given puberty blockers (I know). Being afraid of the police knocking on your door is something else entirely. I joined the Free Speech Union, which supports people who get into trouble for things they’ve said, when it was started a few years ago. But I’ve always considered myself a supporting member. I may be able to defend myself on the basis that I’m a journalist, but even so, I see it as more likely that I could be reported for things I share on X or Facebook now, under Keir Starmer, than before the election, and I find myself thinking twice before hitting “like” or sharing anything controversial.
Cooling effect
It’s what’s known as a chilling effect. As in the Chinese Cultural Revolution, where campaigns against individuals with «wrong» ideas and views were played out in public, to not only teach the victims a lesson, but to serve as examples to the rest of the population, so it is in Starmer’s Britain, and so it is for Lucy Connolly, who can now look forward to celebrating at least one Christmas without her family, and will miss out on her children’s birthdays and milestones in the future. All for a thoughtless comment on X.
Signals continue to be given that freedom of speech is to be tightened, including a reconsideration of the definition of “Islamophobia”, which many fear could make criticism of Islam illegal.
Meanwhile, British prisons are full and convicted violent criminals are being let out early to find places for people like Connolly.
The British government under Labour and Keir Starmer is devoid of decency and mercy. Those who still dare to protest, even those who express themselves clumsily and incorrectly, deserve forgiveness and support, not to be treated like beasts when they point out the problems that the elite want to pass over in silence.
The UK has gone from being a society of trust to an authoritarian, two-tiered society that is on the brink of total collapse. If we can’t talk about what’s happening, it’s almost certain that we’re in for very dark times.