Ricky Jones, a 58-year-old Labour councillor suspended over a controversial comment made at an anti-racism rally, has been found not guilty of encouraging violent disorder.
The incident took place at a protest in Walthamstow, east London, in August last year, following the Southport murders. During his speech, Jones drew his finger across his throat and referred to opposing protesters as “disgusting Nazi fascists.” A video of the moment later went viral online.
Jones, who had served as a borough councillor in Dartford since 2019, told the court his remarks were made “in the heat of the moment” and were not intended to incite violence. He claimed the throat-slitting gesture referenced reports of razor blades being hidden behind far-right stickers on public transport, not a literal threat.
Jurors at Snaresbrook Crown Court deliberated for just 30 minutes before acquitting him.
The protest had been organized in response to a planned far-right demonstration outside the Waltham Forest Immigration Bureau. The event came amid heightened tensions following the murder of three children in Southport by Axel Rudakubana.
While Jones expressed regret and said he was “appalled” by political violence, prosecutors argued that his comments were inflammatory in a volatile setting.
The verdict has sparked backlash from several political figures. Former Home Secretary James Cleverly called it “perverse,” while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticized it as an example of “two-tier justice,” referencing harsher outcomes in other recent speech-related cases.
Jones, a former official with the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association, was suspended from the Labour Party the day after the rally.
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