US President Donald Trump is putting pressure on UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer over the imprisonment of Lucy Connolly. The controversy surrounds a social media post Connolly made in response to the Southport attacks, which led to her 31-month sentence.
Connolly, wife of a Conservative councillor, posted on X calling for “mass deportation” and inflammatory action against asylum seekers and politicians. Her post, viewed more than 310,000 times, was removed within four hours.
Following riots triggered by the Southport stabbings, Connolly was arrested on August 6, 2024. Her recent attempt to appeal the sentence was denied, meaning she remains in prison until at least August 2025.
The White House confirmed that the Trump administration is actively monitoring the case. A spokesperson for the US State Department stressed that the United States supports global freedom of expression and expressed concern over potential infringements on this right.
Campaigners in the US have taken Connolly’s case to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, arguing that her imprisonment reflects broader challenges to free speech across Europe.
Tensions between the US and UK have grown over this issue, particularly with Trump’s intervention. He has used the case to criticise Starmer’s government and what he describes as rising censorship in the UK.
Free speech advocates say Connolly’s sentence sets a troubling precedent. However, others argue her comments crossed a legal line into incitement and hate speech.
Labour officials have declined to comment directly on US criticism but continue to defend the independence of the British legal system. Meanwhile, Conservative voices have called for a wider debate on the limits of online expression.
As international attention grows, the Connolly case could shape future discussions on hate speech legislation and freedom of expression.
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