Tyler Kay, 26, of Northampton was given three years and two months in prison for an X post in which he wrote, "Mass deportation now, set fire to all the f*cking hotels full of the b*stards for all I care... If that makes me racist, so be it.”
After he posted, a response came from an X user, tagging multiple police organizations. Kay had been quoting Lucy Connolly, the wife of a UK Tory Northamptonshire councilor Raymond Connolly. Lucy was arrested a couple days prior to that for posting the exact same words, per the Independent.
In follow up posts to the first, Kay spoke about the intentions with what he said, writing that the UK had two-tiered policing, "My point is more, it's one rule for some and another rule for others because I can tell you now, I will not get arrested by Northants Police. Just showing part of the two teir (sic) policing." The follow-up posts were cited in reporting from the Guardian.
Kay was one of the first people in the UK to be arrested for making social media posts amid the riots and protests in reaction to the mass stabbing attack that took the lives of three school-aged girls. Newly elected British PM Keir Starmer spoke against the riots, promising justice. He also indicated that he would be cracking down with the law online as well.
"I guarantee you will regret taking part in this disorder," Starmer said at the time. "Whether directly or those whipping up this action online and then running away themselves. This is not protest, it is organized violent thuggery and it has no place on our streets or online."
