A Verdict That Ignites Debate
In a verdict that has reignited furious debate over the impartiality of Britain’s justice system, suspended Labour councillor Ricky Jones has been acquitted of encouraging violent disorder following his notorious speech at an anti-racism rally in Walthamstow last August. Jones, 58, was filmed addressing a crowd of counter-protesters, describing right-wing demonstrators as “disgusting Nazi fascists” and declaring, “We need to cut all their throats and get rid of them all,” while drawing his finger across his throat in a chilling gesture. The comments came in the tense aftermath of the Southport tragedy, where three young girls were brutally murdered and others injured by Axel Rudakubana, the son of Rwandan asylum seekers, sparking nationwide unrest.
The Trial and Acquittal
Yet, after a brief deliberation of just over 30 minutes, a jury at Snaresbrook Crown Court cleared Jones of the charge, accepting his defence that the remarks were not meant to be taken literally and were born out of “emotional arousal” amid the riots. Jones, a Dartford borough councillor since 2019 and a left-wing figure within Labour, claimed he was appalled by political violence and had attended the rally out of a sense of duty, despite party warnings to stay away. He was suspended by Labour the day after his arrest, and while the party has not reinstated him, the acquittal raises questions about whether his membership will be quietly restored.
His defence hinged on claims of undiagnosed ADHD and the idea that his words were metaphorical, not literal incitement. Prosecutors argued the speech was “rabble-rousing” in a “tinderbox” atmosphere, but the jury disagreed.
The Stark Contrast: Lucy Connolly’s Case
This outcome stands in stark contrast to the treatment of Lucy Connolly, a white mother and wife of a Conservative councillor, who was sentenced to 31 months in prison for inciting racial hatred via a single, hastily deleted social media post. On the day of the Southport attacks, Connolly tweeted: “Mass deportation now, set fire to all of the fucking hotels full of the bastards for all I care… if that makes me racist so be it.” She later apologised, removed the post, and pleaded guilty, but was denied bail and remanded in custody, facing months behind bars before her sentencing at Birmingham Crown Court in October 2024. Her appeal against the sentence was dismissed in May 2025, with judges ruling it was not “manifestly excessive.”
Connolly’s words, while inflammatory, were couched in conditional language—”for all I care”—suggesting indifference rather than a direct call to action. No violence ensued from her tweet, yet she was swiftly prosecuted and imprisoned. Jones, by contrast, spoke to a jubilant mob of far-left Antifa-style counter-protesters through a microphone, explicitly urging throat-slitting in a context where violence was already simmering.
Evidence of Two-Tier Justice?
The disparity has further fuelled accusations of a two-tier justice system, where political affiliation and ideology appear to influence outcomes. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp branded the verdict “astonishing,” pointing out that Jones was “let off scot-free” for a video-recorded call to violence, while Connolly rots in jail for “something no worse.” Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called it “another outrageous example of two-tier justice,” and party chairman Zia Yusuf highlighted how Britain now seems to allow open calls for murder if aligned with “regime political views.” Even former Home Secretary James Cleverly described the decision as “perverse.”
Left-leaning commentators and lawyers, such as former chief prosecutor Nazir Afzal, dismiss these claims, insisting the cases differ because Connolly pleaded guilty while Jones opted for a jury trial. But this overlooks deeper inequalities: Connolly, denied bail, may have felt coerced into pleading guilty to avoid prolonged pre-trial detention and was advised to make this plea by her solicitor, Liam Muir. Jones on the other hand was released to prepare his defence over a year. Moreover, Jones benefited from high-profile legal representation from Garden Court Chambers, known for activist causes, potentially waiving fees for ideologically aligned clients.
Broader Implications for Britain’s Justice System
This isn’t isolated. The Southport riots saw swift, harsh sentences for right-wing protesters, while left-wing agitators often escape scrutiny. Grooming scandals and differential policing of ethnic groups further erode public trust. Under Keir Starmer’s Labour government, dubbed “two-tier Keir” by critics, such verdicts amplify perceptions of bias favouring progressive narratives over ordinary Britons’ concerns about immigration and security.
As an investigative journalism outlet sceptical of mainstream media’s leftist slant, RightOfCentre.uk demands accountability. Why does the system seem rigged to protect Labour insiders while throwing the book at working-class mothers? The public deserves answers, not platitudes about “equal justice.” This verdict doesn’t just free one man—it exposes a fractured system crying out for reform.
