Elon Musk has criticised UK prison authorities over the continued detention of Lucy Connolly, a childminder jailed for inciting racial hatred following last summer’s Southport riots. The tech billionaire and adviser to Donald Trump expressed full support for Connolly’s appeal to be released on temporary licence (ROTL), highlighting the human cost on her family. Connolly has waited four months for a decision on her application, which cited her daughter’s deteriorating school behaviour and her husband’s serious illness. Documents indicate the delay may be due to public and media interest, rather than a failure to meet ROTL criteria.
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Connolly, 42, from Northampton, was sentenced to 31 months in prison after a post on X (formerly Twitter) that referenced mass deportations and arson against asylum hotels. She removed the tweet within four hours, but not before it had been widely shared. Connolly, who pleaded guilty, has been imprisoned since October. In her appeal, she argues the judge overstated the severity of her offence and failed to fully consider her mitigating circumstances, including her emotional vulnerability following the loss of her young son due to medical negligence.
Musk retweeted posts criticising the sentence and suggesting that freedom of speech is under threat in the UK. He endorsed the sentiment with a “100%” reply and amplified comparisons between Connolly’s punishment and the treatment of speech-related offences in the US. While prison officials insist her ROTL application has not been blocked, they emphasise that all such decisions are subject to strict risk assessments and public safety considerations, with final approval resting with the governor of HMP Drake Hall.
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Connolly’s case has sparked debate across the political spectrum. Senior Conservative figures including Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman, and Liz Truss have voiced concerns about her treatment, with some calling her a victim of a “politicised two-tier justice system”. Badenoch stated that Connolly “probably” should appeal, while Truss and Braverman suggested the sentence reflects a broader inconsistency in the UK’s criminal justice system when dealing with politically sensitive cases.
