A routine visit to a UK prison has turned into a political firestorm after Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice claimed that Lucy Connolly, jailed over a racist tweet, was “manhandled” and mistreated by staff at HMP Peterborough.
Tice, who visited Connolly this week, said what he witnessed and heard left him deeply concerned—not just for her wellbeing, but for what he called a growing climate of politically motivated justice.
Connolly, the wife of a Conservative councillor, is currently serving a 31-month sentence that has already drawn sharp criticism from high-profile figures, including former PM Boris Johnson and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.
Now, with claims of physical mistreatment surfacing, the spotlight on her case is only getting brighter.
Handcuffs, Lockdown, and Claims of Political Targeting
According to Tice, things took a disturbing turn when Connolly was told she wouldn’t be moved to a more privileged wing of the prison.
Instead, she was allegedly placed under near-isolation—locked up 23 hours a day alongside violent inmates.
When she challenged that decision, Tice claims she was restrained with handcuffs and physically taken to her new cell.
He described the treatment as completely unprovoked and suggested it could be a deliberate attempt to provoke her into reacting.
“She still has visible yellow bruises on her wrists five days later,” he said, calling the situation “horrible” and “politically motivated.”
“Lucy’s Bill” Aims to Shake Up the Justice System
As part of his campaign for fairer sentencing, Tice plans to introduce a new piece of legislation he’s calling “Lucy’s Bill”.
The bill would allow campaigners and members of the public to appeal against court decisions they believe are unfair—whether too lenient or too harsh.
His proposal would give people the ability to gather 500 signatures in support of a review.
Once submitted, the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) would have eight weeks to consider whether to refer the case to the Court of Appeal.
Tice emphasized that this wouldn’t be about undermining judges or the legal system, but about adding a “treble check” to restore public confidence.
“Sometimes judges get it wrong—because they’re human,” he said.
“That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t question things when they feel off.”
A Divisive Tweet and a Heavy Sentence
The whole case stems from a tweet Connolly posted in the aftermath of the tragic Southport stabbings, where three young girls were killed.
Her message, aimed at migrants, called for mass deportations and suggested burning down hotels housing asylum seekers.
The tweet was live for just a few hours, but it quickly spread—viewed over 300,000 times and reposted nearly 1,000 times before she deleted it.
The fallout was swift. Despite an appeal last month, Connolly’s 31-month sentence was upheld, and her case has since become a flashpoint in the national debate over free speech, hate speech, and justice.
Claims of Two-Tier Justice
Tice, and others who support Connolly, argue her sentence reflects “two-tier justice,” where public pressure and political agendas influence how harshly certain people are treated.
“We had a prime minister who effectively told judges to hand out strict sentences,” Tice said.
“This feels like a political punishment more than a legal one.”
He warned that the justice system risks losing public trust if people start to believe some cases are being handled unfairly.
“If you lose confidence in justice,” he said, “you’re in a very dangerous place.”
Why the Public Should Have a Say
Asked why ordinary people should have input into legal appeals, Tice pointed to the wisdom of public instinct.
“Never underestimate the common sense of the Great British public,” he said. “They know when something feels unfair.
Judges are brilliant, but sometimes pressure or bias creeps in.”
He added that while the process of getting 500 people to sign on wouldn’t be easy, it would ensure only serious, credible cases moved forward.
“It’s not going to be abused if done right.”
A Push for Accountability in the Legal System
Tice’s proposed reform would shift some power from the legal elite to the public, at least in terms of drawing attention to potential miscarriages of justice.
He chose the CCRC rather than the Attorney General to oversee the process, arguing that the commission is independent and less politically influenced.
“This could actually help the CCRC improve its own practices,” he said.
“Maybe it’s time for them to ask: are we really getting things right?”
No Word Yet from the Prison
The prison, run by private company Sodexo, has not yet issued a statement in response to the allegations.
Tice said he raised his concerns with the prison’s head of security and is watching closely to see how the complaint is handled.
“If bodycam footage suddenly goes missing, we’ll escalate,” he warned.
Connolly is nearing the end of her sentence, but according to Tice, the coming weeks could be the most dangerous.
“I told Lucy to be very careful,” he said, fearful that she could be provoked into reacting before she’s released.
What Happens Next?
On Wednesday, Tice will bring Lucy’s Bill before Parliament using the Ten-Minute Rule—a procedure that allows MPs to present proposals in a brief speech. If successful, it could trigger a wider debate around sentencing reform and political influence in the justice system.
Whether or not the bill becomes law, one thing is clear: Lucy Connolly’s case has ignited strong feelings across the political spectrum, and it’s not going away anytime soon.