Shadow Justice Secretary’s explosive attack leaves Labour minister squirming over ‘two-tier’ justice system
Robert Jenrick has launched a blistering attack on Labour’s Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood, accusing the government of presiding over a “grotesque” two-tier justice system that sees mothers jailed for tweets while killers walk free.
The Shadow Justice Secretary unleashed his fury in the Commons, citing the shocking contrast between childminder Lucy Connolly – who remains behind bars for a social media post – and Lawson Natty, who supplied the machete used to kill 14-year-old Gordon Gault and was released after serving just 40% of his sentence.
The Tale of Two Sentences
The explosive confrontation came as Jenrick highlighted what he called Labour’s “shameful” approach to justice, demanding answers over why:
Lucy Connolly:
- Sentenced to 31 months for one “rash and ugly” tweet posted after the Southport attacks
- Mother of a 12-year-old daughter
- No previous criminal record
- Had her appeal dismissed by the Court of Appeal on May 20, 2025
- Must serve at least 50% of her sentence before release
Lawson Natty:
- Sentenced to just 2 years 8 months for manslaughter
- Supplied the machete that killed 14-year-old Gordon Gault
- Released after serving only 40% of his sentence
- Back on the streets despite showing “no remorse whatsoever”
Jenrick’s Commons Assault
In a fiery exchange that left Labour benches visibly uncomfortable, Jenrick thundered: “Labour has no answer to this grotesque inconsistency. A mother sits in prison for words on social media while a man who supplied the weapon that killed a child walks free.
The Newark MP didn’t hold back, accusing Mahmood of “sitting on her hands” and presiding over a justice system that has “completely lost control.”
The Lucy Connolly Case: A Mother’s Anguish
Lucy Connolly, 42, a childminder from Northampton and wife of a former Conservative councillor, was jailed in October 2024 after posting an anti-immigrant tweet hours after three young girls were murdered in Southport.
The tweet, which she deleted three hours later, read: “Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f****** hotels full of the b******* for all I care, while you’re at it take the treacherous government and politicians with them.”
During her failed appeal last week, Connolly explained from prison that she was “really angry, really upset” and “distressed that those children had died” when she wrote the tweet. Her husband Ray has pointed out that his wife is getting more time in jail for one tweet than some paedophiles and domestic abusers.
Lord Justice Holroyde controversially said there was “no arguable basis” that her sentence was “manifestly excessive” – despite growing calls from MPs across the political spectrum, including Boris Johnson, Nigel Farage, and even Labour MP Mary Glindon, for her release.
The Gordon Gault Tragedy: Killer’s Early Release
In stark contrast, Lawson Natty was released early from prison in September 2024 after serving just five months of his sentence for his role in the killing of 14-year-old Gordon Gault.
Gordon’s mother, Dionne Barrett, expressed her “shock and disbelief” at the early release, saying: “It’s absolutely crazy. They’ve got spaces for rioters, not that I agree with the rioters, but they’ve got places for them.
She revealed her fears about encountering her son’s killer on the streets of Newcastle, stating: “He’s shown no remorse whatsoever. After he killed Gordon, he threatened to petrol bomb my house, to rape Gordon’s 13-year-old girlfriend, and he’s allowed to come back on the street?
Labour’s Response: Deflection and Denial
Mahmood’s response to Jenrick’s assault was widely seen as weak and evasive. Rather than addressing the specific cases, she accused the Shadow Justice Secretary of “chasing after Kemi Badenoch’s role as party leader” and engaging in “nonsense.
The Justice Secretary attempted to deflect by claiming she was “rectifying the proper distinction between matters of policy and matters of independent judicial making” – a response that drew jeers from the Conservative benches.
The Wider Pattern: Two-Tier Justice Exposed
The controversy has reignited debate about “two-tier justice” in Britain, with critics pointing to numerous examples:
- Labour councillor Ricky Jones, who was filmed telling a crowd “We need to cut their throats and get rid of them”, remains free on bail
- Huw Edwards received a suspended sentence after pleading guilty to making indecent images of children
- Sam Gould, Labour councillor and former aide to Wes Streeting, received a suspended sentence for indecently exposing himself to a 13-year-old girl
Meanwhile, others involved in the summer riots received harsh sentences, including Peter Lynch, a 61-year-old grandfather who died in prison after being sentenced to 2 years 8 months for shouting racist remarks at a protest.
Political Fallout
The clash has exposed deep divisions over Labour’s approach to justice, with Jenrick warning: “In just 18 days, we are set to have a two-tier justice system because of two-tier Keir.
Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman called Connolly’s sentence “excessive” and claimed she was the victim of a “politicised two-tier justice system.” Former Prime Minister Liz Truss added: “The severity of her sentence is completely unjustifiable and a shocking example of two-tier justice.
What Happens Next?
As pressure mounts on the government to address these glaring inconsistencies, questions remain:
- Will Lucy Connolly’s case reach the Supreme Court?
- How can Labour justify keeping a mother in prison for a tweet while releasing violent criminals early?
- Is this the “change” voters were promised?
One thing is certain: Jenrick’s explosive intervention has ensured this scandal won’t go away quietly. As he told the Commons: “Their mask has slipped.”
