Ricky Jones, a 58-year-old suspended Labour councillor from Dartford, was charged with encouraging violent disorder following a speech he made on 7th August, 2024, at an anti-fascist protest in Hoe Street, Walthamstow, east London.
The charge stemmed from comments where Jones allegedly referred to far-right protesters as "disgusting Nazi fascists" and suggested that their "throats should be cut," accompanied by a gesture. The remarks were captured in a video that went viral, leading to his arrest on 8th August, 2024, and subsequent charging.
Jones pleaded not guilty to the charge of encouraging violent disorder in September 2024.
Jones, who was initially remanded in custody but later released on bail, was represented by Garden Court Chambers. The not guilty verdict has been noted in various sources, with some highlighting the speed of the jury's decision and others questioning the consistency of the judicial process compared to other riot-related cases.
Social Media hasn't reacted very well to the verdict:
Allison Pearson commented:
I feel sick.
Labour councillor told crowd to “cut their throats” found not guilty.
He didn’t mean it literally.
Lucy Connolly didn’t mean it literally either.
But Lucy is white and married to a Tory councillor.
2-tier justice.
-- Allison Pearson, 15th August, 2025
Rupert Lowe MP Commented:
Free Lucy Connolly, and the other political prisoners.
-- Rupert Lowe, 15th August, 2025
Reform UKs Zia Yusuf commented:
The UK is now a country in which those who have the correct ‘regime’ political views can openly call for their political opponents to be brutally murdered, be filmed doing so, and face no criminal consequence.
A watershed moment in British politics.
-- Zia Yusuf, 15th August, 2025
Dan Wootton commented:
Labour councillor Ricky Jones literally called for his right-wing opponents to have their throats slit ON CAMERA.
"We need to cut all their throats & get rid of them all."
He's just been found NOT GUILTY.
As Lucy Connolly languishes behind bars for a tweet.
TWO TIER BRITAIN.
-- Dan Wootton, 15th August, 2025
https://twitter.com/AllisonPearson/status/1956310130569490940
https://twitter.com/RupertLowe10/status/1956311394099282391
https://twitter.com/ZiaYusufUK/status/1956307518226842027
https://twitter.com/danwootton/status/1956302139858247801
