A Preston College teacher has been dismissed from his position after posting on social media that Lucy Connolly’s imprisonment was an example of “two-tier justice”, sparking fresh debate over free speech in educational institutions and the role of trade unions in workplace disputes.
Simon Pearson, 56, an English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) teacher at the further education college in Fulwood, wrote on Facebook that whilst Connolly’s comments following the Southport attacks were “obviously wrong”, she “should not have been jailed”. His dismissal came after a Muslim representative of the National Education Union (NEU) at the college filed a formal complaint.
The college launched an internal investigation following the complaint, which alleged that Pearson’s posts were “Islamophobic” and “racially discriminatory”. The investigation concluded that his comments had violated college policies and had the potential to damage the institution’s reputation, leading to his termination.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Pearson expressed dismay at his treatment: “I am appalled by the way I’ve been treated. I’ve dedicated my life to education and to supporting students from all walks of life. Yet as soon as I was branded ‘Islamophobic’ for expressing concern about violent crime, I became a marked man.
The dismissed teacher claimed the process became a “witch hunt” and that he “had to be found guilty by the college” regardless of evidence. “It was clear that I had to be eliminated no matter what,” Pearson told the newspaper.
The case relates to Lucy Connolly’s 31-month prison sentence, handed down in October 2024 after she pleaded guilty to inciting racial hatred. Connolly, 42, the wife of former Conservative councillor Raymond Connolly, had posted on social media platform X on 29 July following the Southport murders, calling for “mass deportation now” and writing “set fire to all the fing hotels full of the b***s for all I care”.
Connolly deleted the post within four hours, but it had already been viewed 310,000 times. She was arrested on 6 August and remanded in custody before pleading guilty in September. Judge Melbourne Inman KC sentenced her to 31 months, stating she had encouraged “activity which threatened or endangered life”.
The severity of Connolly’s sentence has attracted widespread criticism from political figures and free speech advocates. Former Home Secretary Suella Braverman called it “excessive” and claimed Connolly was a victim of a “politicised two-tier justice system. Former Prime Minister Liz Truss demanded her immediate release.
Lord Young of Acton, founder of the Free Speech Union, condemned Pearson’s dismissal, stating: “The most striking aspect of this case is that the teacher was sacked at the behest of the NEU. Once upon a time, trade unions used to stick up for workers threatened with the sack for speaking out of turn. Now, they side with management and actively try to get workers sacked, including their dues-paying members.”
Pearson has now filed claims at an employment tribunal for wrongful dismissal, unfair dismissal, harassment, and discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. He stated he had apologised if his comments offended anyone but maintains his dismissal was unjustified.
The NEU’s role in the dismissal has raised questions about union representation and workplace freedom of expression. Critics argue that the union should have defended its member rather than initiating the complaint that led to his termination.
Pearson’s case emerges against a backdrop of ongoing debate about sentencing disparities following the summer 2024 unrest. Connolly’s supporters have contrasted her 31-month sentence with cases they claim received more lenient treatment, including violent offenders who received shorter terms or suspended sentences.
The childminder lost her appeal against the sentence in May 2025, with Court of Appeal judges ruling there was “no arguable basis” that her sentence was “manifestly excessive”. Lord Justice Holroyde stated that Connolly “willingly pleaded guilty” and the sentencing judge was “entitled, and indeed obviously correct, to categorise the case as he did”.
During her appeal, Connolly revealed she had been “really angry, really upset” following the Southport attacks, which had triggered memories of losing her own 19-month-old son Harry in 2011 due to NHS negligence. She claimed she did not understand that pleading guilty meant accepting she intended to incite violence.
The Free Speech Union, which supported Connolly’s appeal, described the Court of Appeal’s decision as “deeply disappointing” and maintains the sentence was “plainly disproportionate”. A crowdfunding campaign for Connolly has raised over £150,000 ($190,000) to help her family with legal costs and living expenses whilst she remains imprisoned.
Preston College has not publicly commented on Pearson’s dismissal beyond confirming that an internal investigation took place following a complaint. The institution, located in Fulwood, serves thousands of students across Lancashire with vocational and academic courses.
The case has reignited discussions about academic freedom and the boundaries of acceptable discourse in educational settings. Critics argue that Pearson’s comments, whilst controversial, fell within legitimate political debate about criminal justice and should not have resulted in his dismissal.
US officials have reportedly taken interest in cases like Connolly’s, with Vice President JD Vance stating at the Munich Security Conference: “In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I fear, is in retreat.” The White House confirmed it is “monitoring” Connolly’s case as part of broader concerns about free speech restrictions.
As Pearson’s employment tribunal case proceeds, the incident highlights tensions between institutional policies on equality and diversity, union activism, and individual expression rights in workplace settings. The outcome could have implications for how educational institutions handle similar situations in future.
The broader debate about “two-tier justice” continues to resonate in British politics, with Reform UK and other opposition parties regularly raising concerns about perceived inconsistencies in law enforcement and sentencing. Pearson’s dismissal adds another dimension to these discussions, extending them into workplace and educational contexts.
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