Lucy Connolly's release from prison has reignited one of the most heated debates in Britain today: free speech versus hate speech. Once an unknown childminder from Northampton, the 42-year-old has become a polarising figure, seen by some as a reckless ...

The wife of a Tory councillor – who was was jailed for stirring up racial hatred against asylum seekers – was released from prison on Thursday. | ITV News Anglia

Lucy Connolly, 42, was jailed for stirring up racial hatred against asylum seekers online in the aftermath of the Southport murders

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Despite Connolly pleading guilty for her vile social media post, some sections of the right-wing press have tried to portray her as some sort of martyr.

Lucy Connolly, jailed for inciting violence against asylum-seeker hotels on X, has been released after serving 40% of her sentence, reigniting debate over free speech and hate crime laws in the UK.

Lucy Connolly's husband Raymond has issued a withering message to the Prime Minister after his wife finally won her freedom. On Thursday, Mrs Connolly was released from prison after being jailed for a social media post last year.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has been slammed for posting a tweet in support of Lucy Connolly, who was jailed for stirring up racial hatred. Connolly pleaded guilty to sharing a tweet on the day of the Southport stabbings, calling for “mass deportations” and urging people to “set fire” to asylum hotels.