Innovation

The prime minister has defended the 31-month prison term imposed on a councillor's wife for her online rant against migrants on the day of the Southport attacks.

Lucy Connolly, from Northampton, was jailed in October for inciting racial hatred and the Court of Appeal upheld the sentence on Tuesday.

The independent MP for Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, Rupert Lowe, used Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions to ask Sir Keir Starmer whether the jail term was an "efficient or fair" use of prison.

Sir Keir said he was in favour of free speech and against inciting violence, and said sentences were a matter for the courts.

Connolly's husband was a Conservative member of West Northamptonshire Council.

She had put an expletive-ridden post on X, on the day three children were killed at a dance class in Southport in Merseyside, urging followers to "set fire" to hotels which housed asylum seekers.

She also called for "mass deportation now" and added "if that makes me a racist, then so be it".

The Court of Appeal ruled that her 31-month sentence was not "manifestly excessive".

Speaking in the House of Commons, Lowe said: "Does the prime minister agree that imprisoning Lucy Connolly, a young mother with a 12-year-old daughter, for one foolish social media post, soon deleted, is clearly not an efficient or fair use of prison?"

Sir Keir said that sentencing was a "matter for our courts" and he celebrated the independence of the judiciary.

He added: "I am strongly in favour of free speech – we've had free speech for a very long time and we protect it fiercely – but I'm equally against incitement to violence against other people.

"I will always support the action taken by our police and courts to keep our streets and people safe."

Lowe has said on social media that he has tabled a motion calling for greater use of community sentences and urging the government to "ensure the limited prison space is prioritised for dangerous and violent offenders, not young mothers like Lucy Connolly".

He has also written to Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, to demand Connolly's release.

A business group has appointed women to top roles for the first time in its history.

The Guernsey International Business Association (GIBA) has appointed Jo Peacegood as chair and Helen Wyatt as deputy chair.

Ms Peacegood becomes the first female chair in the association's 44-year history, it said.

She said she was looking forward to support the growth and resilience of the island's financial sector.

'Highly accomplished'

Ms Peacegood had been chair of the Guernsey Investment and Funds Association and has served as GIBA's deputy chair for the past two years.

She said: "I hope to continue our commitment to collaboration, innovation and maintaining the island's reputation for high standards and expertise."

GIBA said Helen Wyatt, partner in the corporate practice at Mourant Ozannes (Guernsey) LLP, brought legal expertise and a particular interest in financial services regulatory matters to the role.

It added that Paul Sykes would remain a council member after stepping down from two years as chair.

Mr Sykes said: "I'm delighted that GIBA's leadership is being taken forward by two such highly accomplished and experienced executives as Jo and Helen.

"The fact that they are GIBA's first female leaders makes the news even more exciting."

GIBA said it served as the collective voice of the island's financial services industry, which employs more than 7,500 professionals, making it one of the largest employee sectors on the island.

A man charged with the murder of his one-month-old son will stand trial next year.

Tony Bartlett is accused of killing his son Atticus Bartlett in 2022.

Atticus was taken to hospital in a critical condition after police were called to a property in Chard, Somerset, on 16 July. He died a week later.

Mr Bartlett, 38, of Axminster in Devon, appeared at Bristol Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on Wednesday, but has yet to enter a plea.