Donald Trump pressures Keir Starmer over Lucy Connolly Southport tweet case

Local MP Sarah Pochin shone a light on the sentence

A Runcorn resident has been handed a 28-month prison sentence for posting a tweet, sparking comparisons to the Lucy Connolly case.

Revealed by Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin, she said: “Just heard some truly shocking news in my Runcorn constituency office this morning. A constituent of mine is now serving a 28-month prison sentence – simply for posting an unwise tweet.”

Pochin confirmed that she will visit the male prisoner next week to “hear his side of the story”.

The Reform MP for Runcorn and Helsby added: “This looks like an all too familiar tale of two-tier justice.”

Pochin highlighted the sentencing on her Twitter

X/SarahForRuncorn

The case has been compared to that of Lucy Connolly, who was sentenced to 31 months in prison for her tweets in July last year, following the Southport attack.

Connolly posted online, calling for “mass deportation now”, adding, “set fire to all the hotels [housing asylum seekers] for all I care”.

She was jailed in October for inciting racial hatred, despite deleting the post three and a half hours later, having been viewed over 300,000 times.

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said Connolly is being held as “a political prisoner” and believes her mistreatment is “politically motivated”.

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Tice visited Connolly at HMP Peterborough and called her conditions “inexplicable” for someone with an “immaculate record in prison”.

The news follows MPs calling for controversial rapper Bob Vylan “should be arrested and prosecuted” like Connolly.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has demanded that the rapper, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, should face consequences for his words or risk becoming the centre of a fresh “two-tier justice” row.

Avon and Somerset Police confirmed they have launched a criminal investigation into performances by Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday.

The force confirmed that video footage and audio from both acts have been reviewed.

“Following the completion of that assessment process, we have decided further enquiries are required and a criminal investigation is now being undertaken,” the police stated.

A senior detective has been appointed to lead the investigation. The incidents have been recorded as public order matters whilst enquiries remain at an early stage

After reconnecting following a brief split, Prince William knew he couldn’t let his then-girlfriend Kate Middleton go again, and the pair made their commitment clear with a heartfelt holiday vow

Prince William and Princess Kate very nearly didn’t get their fairytale ending(Image: Max Mumby/Indigo, Getty Images)

Prince William and Princess Kate have now been married for 14 years, with thousands tuning into their fairytale wedding at Westminster Abbey in the Spring of 2011. But their love story very nearly didn’t have a happy ending.

The former university sweethearts, who fell for each other as students at the prestigious St. Andrew’s, briefly parted ways in April 2007, when life as young graduates took them in different directions.

Fashionable Kate, now, of course, one of the most influential style icons of modern times, was working in London for clothing brand Jigsaw, while William was throwing himself into army life. With the pressures to get engaged reaching fever pitch, the future heir to the throne began having doubts and broke off the relationship in a heartbreaking 30-minute phone call.

The Prince and Princess of Wales briefly broke up as twentysomethings just starting out in adult life(Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)

Devastated, Kate was allowed to take a week’s worth of compassionate leave from work, while William hit the town with pals, reportedly declaring “I’m free!” during a boozy night out at Mayfair’s Mahiki nightclub.

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This is according to Robert Jobson’s book Catherine, The Princess of Wales: The Biography, which details how, having nursed her broken heart, the future queen responded by also making sure to have plenty of fun of her own, stepping out on the town accompanied by sister Pippa.

By the time William was back in his army barracks, Kate was still out enjoying the single life, with her glam look catching the eye of other eligible bachelors, including shipping heir, Sir Henry Ropner.

William, then just 24, reportedly began to realise he could have made a mistake by letting Kate go. In June 2007, they were spotted talking for hours at a party thrown by mutual friend Sam Waley-Cohen. Apparently not wanting to miss his chance again, William invited Kate to a party at his Dorset barracks in Dorset, where the cheeky theme was ‘Freakin’ Naughty’. The rest, as they say, is history.

However, like many couples before and after them who’ve taken a break, the pair needed time to reconnect and renew their commitment to each other. And while holidaying together on the dreamy Seychelles island of Desroches in August 2007, they made a solemn pact.

The couple renewed their commitment to each other during a dreamy island getaway(Image: (Image: GETTY))

In her book The Making of a Royal Romance, Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl wrote: “With a population of just 50 and three miles long, the paradise island was the perfect escape.”

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The then twentysomethings, who checked into the five star resort under the names Martin and Rosemary Middleton, spent their days kayaking and snorkelling, but there were also some serious conversations to be had before they could move forward.

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According to author Katie: “For a young man who has an inherent fear of tomorrow, this was not easy for William, but the tranquil backdrop of the island was as good a place as any to discuss it.”