A petition demanding the release of Lucy Connolly has received 25,000 signatures in just five hours.
Ex-Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe, who created the petition earlier today, celebrated reaching the all-important 10,000 milestone in under three hours.
He said: "People should not be in prison for stupid social media posts - this petition is pushing for Government to urgently review the penalties.
"Lucy Connolly, and others, should not be in prison. This petition has the support of her family."
Speaking to GB News, Lowe added: "I think most people agree that this was a miscarriage of justice. The petition will hopefully confirm this."
After surpassing the 10,000 threshold, the petition will now eventually secure a response from the Government.
MPs could have the opportunity to debate the petition in Westminster Hall if it reaches 100,000 signatures.
Petitions are given six months to reach 100,000 signatures, leaving Lowe with time until December 20 to force a debate.
In the petition's description, Lowe wrote: "We call on the Government to urgently review the possible penalties for non-violent offences arising from social media posts, including the use of prison.
Lucy Connolly had her application to appeal rejectedX"There is serious public concern about the proportionality of sentencing in cases involving opinion-based online speech.
"We believe imprisoning individuals for posts on social media sets a dangerous precedent and raises wider questions about freedom of expression, proportionality in sentencing, and the misuse of limited prison resources.
"We consider that alternative sanctions, such as fines or community service, would be more appropriate."
Lowe recently received the backing of eight other MPs after setting out an Early Day Motion on Connolly's imprisonment - including Labour MP Mary Glindon and Tory MP Sir Gavin Williamson.
The petition reached 25,000 signatures at around 6pm
UK GOVERNMENT
Connolly, 42, who is a Northamptonshire childminder and the wife of a Tory councillor, admitted inciting racial hatred after posting about burning down asylum hotels.
She said: "Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f**king hotels full of the b******s for all I care ... If that makes me racist, so be it."
Fewer than four hours later, Connolly removed the post after it was viewed 310,000 times.
However, a number of high-profile politicians described her 31-month sentence as another example of two-tier justice.
Lucy Connolly was jailed for 31 months for a tweet about last year's Southport attacksPA Donald Trump was also monitoring the situation after American conservative Charlie Kirk told GB News that the White House had been made aware of Connolly's sentence.
"I'm going to bring this up to Marco Rubio. I'm going to send him a text," Kirk told the People's Channel.
Connolly's appeal against her sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal last month.
In a written judgment, Lord Justice Holroyde said: "There is no arguable basis on which it could be said that the sentence imposed by the judge was manifestly excessive.
Rupert LowePA"The application for leave to appeal against sentence, therefore, fails and is refused."
Connolly's husband Ray said was "heartbroken" that his wife's appeal bid has been dismissed.
He added: "My wife has paid a very high for making a mistake and today the court has shown her no mercy."
Northampton South's Labour MP Mike Reader had previously called on Ray Connolly to quit as a local Conservative councillor.
However, he eventually went on to lose his ward when Reform UK swept up the local authority on May 1.
Most Read
