Tory politician’s wife admits race hate post on X
The wife of a Tory councillor has pleaded guilty to writing a social media post “intending to stir up racial hatred”.
Lucy Connolly, 41, a childminder whose husband serves on West Northamptonshire Council, called for hotels housing asylum seekers to be set on fire and for mass deportations.
Her expletive-ridden post appeared on the X platform on the day three girls were killed in Southport.
Connolly, a childminder, posted a call for hotels housing migrants to be set on fire and for “mass deportation now”.
“If that makes me racist, so be it,” she added.
Connolly, of Parkfield Avenue in Northampton, appeared by video link from HMP Peterborough at the hearing at Northampton Crown Court.
After admitting publishing threatening or abusive material intending to stir up racial hatred, the judge announced that sentencing would be transferred to Birmingham to avoid any potential local bias given her husband’s political role.
Judge Lucking said: “Sentencing will entirely be a matter for the judge on the next occasion but it’s likely to be a substantial custodial sentence.
“In the meantime, you are remanded in custody.”
Her husband watched the hearing from the public gallery.
Frank Ferguson, head of the Crown Prosecution Service special crime and counter terrorism unit, said: “During police interview, Lucy Connolly stated she had strong views on immigration, told officers she did not like immigrants and claimed that children were not safe from them.
“It is not an offence to have strong or differing political views, but it is an offence to incite racial hatred – and that is what Connolly has admitted doing.”
She will be sentenced at Birmingham Crown Court on 17 October.
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