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| Labour councillor Ricky Jones cleared of encouraging violent behaviour | Labour councillor Ricky Jones cleared of encouraging violent behaviour |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The jury took less than an hour to find Ricky Jones not guilty | The jury took less than an hour to find Ricky Jones not guilty |
| A Labour councillor who called for far-right activists' throats to be cut at an anti-racism rally has been found not guilty of encouraging violent disorder by a jury. | A Labour councillor who called for far-right activists' throats to be cut at an anti-racism rally has been found not guilty of encouraging violent disorder by a jury. |
| Ricky Jones, 58, has been on trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court after he was seen on video making reference to "disgusting Nazi fascists" while addressing a crowd in Walthamstow on 7 August last year. | Ricky Jones, 58, has been on trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court after he was seen on video making reference to "disgusting Nazi fascists" while addressing a crowd in Walthamstow on 7 August last year. |
| Mr Jones said his remarks were directed towards far-right activists who he said had left stickers on a train with razor blades hidden behind them, and told police they were never intended to be "taken literally by anyone". | Mr Jones said his remarks were directed towards far-right activists who he said had left stickers on a train with razor blades hidden behind them, and told police they were never intended to be "taken literally by anyone". |
| The Dartford councillor, who has since been suspended by the Labour Party, had denied encouraging violent behaviour. | The Dartford councillor, who has since been suspended by the Labour Party, had denied encouraging violent behaviour. |
| A video showing Mr Jones addressing crowds in Walthamstow last year went viral on social media after the protest, which had been organised in response to plans for a far-right march outside Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau. | A video showing Mr Jones addressing crowds in Walthamstow last year went viral on social media after the protest, which had been organised in response to plans for a far-right march outside Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau. |
| He also drew his finger across his throat as he spoke to the crowd. | He also drew his finger across his throat as he spoke to the crowd. |
| Mr Jones was arrested the day after making the comments and told the court he felt it was his "duty" to attend counter-protests. | Mr Jones was arrested the day after making the comments and told the court he felt it was his "duty" to attend counter-protests. |
| Jurors deliberated for just over half an hour before finding him not guilty on Friday. | Jurors deliberated for just over half an hour before finding him not guilty on Friday. |
| Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said of the decision: "It is astonishing that this Labour councillor, who was caught on video calling for throats to be slit, is let off scot-free, whereas Lucy Connolly got 31 months prison for posting something no worse." | Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said of the decision: "It is astonishing that this Labour councillor, who was caught on video calling for throats to be slit, is let off scot-free, whereas Lucy Connolly got 31 months prison for posting something no worse." |
| Lucy Connolly, a childminder from Northampton, was jailed for inciting race hate after she posted online last year calling for "mass deportation now", adding "set fire to all the...hotels [housing asylum seekers]...for all I care", before continuing to say: "if that makes me racist, so be it". | Lucy Connolly, a childminder from Northampton, was jailed for inciting race hate after she posted online last year calling for "mass deportation now", adding "set fire to all the...hotels [housing asylum seekers]...for all I care", before continuing to say: "if that makes me racist, so be it". |
| Connolly previously admitted intending to stir up racial hatred. Mr Jones pleaded not guilty and had his case heard before a jury. | Connolly previously admitted intending to stir up racial hatred. Mr Jones pleaded not guilty and had his case heard before a jury. |
| Mr Jones leaving court after an earlier hearing in the trial | Mr Jones leaving court after an earlier hearing in the trial |
| Mr Philp said: "The development of two-tier justice is becoming increasingly alarming. | Mr Philp said: "The development of two-tier justice is becoming increasingly alarming. |
| "It cannot have been a question of uncertain evidence as the man was on video clearly calling for violence. | "It cannot have been a question of uncertain evidence as the man was on video clearly calling for violence. |
| "The government must come forward with plans to ensure justice is handed out equally, regardless of the background or views of the perpetrator - but as far as I can see this Labour government seems to be quite happy with two-tier justice." | "The government must come forward with plans to ensure justice is handed out equally, regardless of the background or views of the perpetrator - but as far as I can see this Labour government seems to be quite happy with two-tier justice." |
| The leader of Reform UK and MP for Clacton, Nigel Farage, said the decision was "another outrageous example of two-tier justice". | The leader of Reform UK and MP for Clacton, Nigel Farage, said the decision was "another outrageous example of two-tier justice". |
| A spokesperson for the Ministry of Justice said: "Sentencing decisions are made by the independent judiciary and are not for us to comment on." | |
| Juries in trials are randomly selected strangers. | |
| At the time of the incident, Mr Jones was employed as a full-time official for the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) union. | At the time of the incident, Mr Jones was employed as a full-time official for the Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA) union. |
| He has been a borough councillor since 2019 but was suspended by the Labour Party on 8 August last year. | He has been a borough councillor since 2019 but was suspended by the Labour Party on 8 August last year. |
| It is understood that a party investigation remains ongoing and its outcome will decide what happens to his membership. | It is understood that a party investigation remains ongoing and its outcome will decide what happens to his membership. |
| 'Appalled' | 'Appalled' |
| The demonstration attended by Mr Jones took place in response to protests held following the murder of three children in Southport. | The demonstration attended by Mr Jones took place in response to protests held following the murder of three children in Southport. |
| Prosecutor Ben Holt previously told the court Mr Jones used "inflammatory, rabble-rousing language in the throng of a crowd described as a tinderbox". | Prosecutor Ben Holt previously told the court Mr Jones used "inflammatory, rabble-rousing language in the throng of a crowd described as a tinderbox". |
| He told jurors Mr Jones's speech was amplified through a microphone and speakers and took place "in a setting where violence could readily have been anticipated". | He told jurors Mr Jones's speech was amplified through a microphone and speakers and took place "in a setting where violence could readily have been anticipated". |
| Giving evidence in his trial, Mr Jones said his comment did not refer to far-right protesters involved in the riots at the time, but to those who had reportedly left National Front stickers on a train with razor blades hidden behind them. | Giving evidence in his trial, Mr Jones said his comment did not refer to far-right protesters involved in the riots at the time, but to those who had reportedly left National Front stickers on a train with razor blades hidden behind them. |
| Before he made the comment, jurors were shown video where he said to crowds: "You've got women and children using these trains during the summer holidays. | Before he made the comment, jurors were shown video where he said to crowds: "You've got women and children using these trains during the summer holidays. |
| "They don't [care] who they hurt." | "They don't [care] who they hurt." |
| He told the court he was "appalled" by political violence, adding: "I've always believed the best way to make people realise who you are and what you are is to do it peacefully." | He told the court he was "appalled" by political violence, adding: "I've always believed the best way to make people realise who you are and what you are is to do it peacefully." |
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