MPs have raised alarm about a rise in abuse linked to immigration debates, with some reporting levels of online harassment and death threats worse than during the Brexit years. The warning came after a weekend of protests and counter-protests at hotels housing asylum seekers, with 15 people arrested on Saturday and demonstrations continuing into Sunday.
One female MP, who asked to remain anonymous, said she reported an online rape threat linked to her support for asylum seekers to the police. Shipley’s Labour MP, Anna Dixon, said she received death threats after Conservative MP Robbie Moore shared “misleading” information about her stance on grooming gangs. Dixon said police are investigating these threats.
“The lambasting we are all getting on social media and in the inbox is grim, from both sides,” said Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi. “It’s like we can’t do right for doing wrong and everything has become frighteningly polarised. It’s worse than Brexit. In fact I could cope with that better.” Another veteran Labour MP backed her comments, saying hostility towards politicians is worse now than ever.
Green party co-leader Carla Denyer said abuse had become “noticeably worse” in recent months, “escalating in some cases to violent threats”. She added: “As a leftwing and queer woman MP who speaks up frequently in support of refugees and LGBTIQA+ issues, I attract a lot of misogynist and homophobic abuse.”
A speaker’s conference on MP security found only just over half (52%) of respondents felt safe in their role. The biggest concern was online abuse, followed by being recognised and abused in public. Many MPs voiced concerns anonymously, fearing further abuse if they spoke publicly.
