Lucy Connolly’s tweet about asylum seekers was vile. But she shouldn’t be in prison
On July 29, in the hours following the killings of three little girls in Southport , a 41-year-old childminder from Northampton named Lucy Connolly posted the following message on social media. "Mass deportation now," she wrote, "set fire to all the f-ing hotels full of the b-s for all I care."
Her words were vile. No question. But should she really have been sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison ?
I think people are entitled to wonder. Especially when they see men like Huw Edwards walk free after being found guilty of possessing images of children being sexually abused. Most people in this country, I suspect, would argue that, of the two crimes, the more heinous is the latter. But the way things are going, they may be starting to feel as if, nowadays, you get punished more severely for what you think than for what you do.
They may also recall that, in February, three women who had attended a pro-Palestinian march in London were convicted of a terrorist offence for displaying images of paragliders – eerily like the ones who slaughtered innocent civilians on October 7, 2023 . Yet these women – Heba Alhayek, Pauline Ankunda and Noimutu Olayinka Taiwo – were spared jail.
"You crossed the line," the judge told them, "but it would have been fair to say that emotions ran very high on this issue."
Well, yes. They certainly did. But then, emotions also "ran very high" after the little girls were killed in Southport, too.
Put a Cork in it, councillors
For Benjamin Netanyahu, it's been a week of mixed fortunes. On the one hand, Israeli forces managed to kill Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas. But the news wasn't all good. Because, earlier in the week, the Israeli prime minister suffered a devastating blow.
On Monday night, a group of local councillors in Ireland voted to ban him from entering Cork.
Admittedly, it's unknown whether Mr Netanyahu had any actual plans to enter it, or indeed whether he has ever heard of it. But, according to one Cork councillor, the move will help to "keep the pressure" on him to agree a ceasefire in Gaza.
In any case, the councillor explained, it's a matter of principle. "We have a track record in Ireland," he declared, "of standing up to evil." Well, unless you count the fact that throughout the Second World War the Irish government refused to join the Allies' fight against Nazi Germany, and, in May 1945, sent official condolences to the German ambassador, expressing sorrow at the death of Hitler.
Conceivably, I suppose, some people may try to argue that the job of local councillors is to fix potholes and organise bin collections, rather than to issue futile pronouncements on foreign conflicts taking place over 3,000 miles away. They may even contend that these councillors in Cork are a pack of delusionally self-important, narcissistic, pompous, grandstanding, time-wasting halfwits.
Still, I'm sure there will also be some who admire them. So, following the councillors' example, I've decided to make an intervention of my own. Next month, here in Kent, I shall be celebrating my birthday with drinks at my favourite pub. And I hereby announce that Vladimir Putin is officially banned from attending.
Staff at the pub have been given strict instructions that on no account must President Putin be permitted to join my table. Any attempt by Putin to buy me a pint is to be rejected forthwith. And let the Kremlin be in no doubt: any birthday presents Putin has bought for me will be returned unopened.
Inevitably, some observers will protest that such a move is risky, and that I'm taking too hard a line. But I make no apology. Without the selfless courage of people like me, Putin will never be defeated.
Starmer's identity crisis
He just can't seem to stop himself. In the House of Commons this week, Sir Keir Starmer once again referred to Rishi Sunak as "the Prime Minister". It's become the most peculiar habit. In fact, during one session of PMQs last month, he did it no fewer than five times .
Given how often it's happened, and how long it's been since Labour won the general election, it can't be a mere slip of the tongue. There has to be another explanation. But what?
Is it psychological? A desperate cry for help? Does Sir Keir secretly wish that Mr Sunak were still PM, so that he, Sir Keir, could go back to the happier and much easier life he enjoyed as leader of the opposition, when he could airily brag about how a Labour government would "go for growth" and "smash the gangs", without having to bother working out how these fine goals might be achieved?
Alternatively, is Sir Keir just discombobulated through lack of sleep? I wouldn't be surprised, given what a busy life he now leads. After all, these Taylor Swift concerts can go on long into the night. Especially if you decide to queue up for a selfie with her afterwards.
Anyway, whatever the explanation, Sir Keir clearly needs help. And I think I know what to do. Every Wednesday, ahead of PMQs, his aides arm him with sheaves of notes, crammed with useful facts he might otherwise forget.
I suggest they add a sheet of A4, printed with the words: ""
Way of the World is a twice-weekly satirical look at the headlines aiming to mock the absurdities of the modern world. It is published at 7am every Tuesday and Saturday
