Politicians have been cautioned against glorifying Lucy Connolly, as a majority of voters believe they should maintain a distance from her. The 42-year-old was imprisoned for inciting racial hatred by suggesting the burning of asylum hotels during the Southport riots last year.
Despite admitting guilt for the racially charged tweet that was subsequently deleted, Connolly has asserted being a “political prisoner” since her release. Right-wing political figures have swiftly come to her defense, with Nigel Farage set to share her story with Trump associates during an upcoming visit to Washington.
A survey conducted by More in Common revealed that only 18% of respondents feel that politicians should align themselves closely with Connolly, while 51% believe they should keep a distance. Among Conservative voters, 48% prefer politicians to steer clear of her, with only 22% supporting association.
Even within the Reform party, just half of the respondents (48%) advocate for political backing of Connolly, while 28% suggest maintaining a distance. The majority of participants opined that Connolly’s 10-month prison sentence was either appropriate (32%) or too lenient (20%), while 35% deemed it too severe.
Luke Tryl, Executive Director at More in Common, cautioned against idolizing Connolly, emphasizing that while some may perceive her sentence as overly harsh, the general sentiment leans towards fair or lenient. He highlighted that the public lacks widespread admiration for Connolly and her cause, with only one in five supporting political association with her, while half recommend political detachment.
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