Members of the parliament (MPs) have warned of a sharp rise in online harassment and threats linked to debates over immigration, with some saying the level of abuse is now worse than during the Brexit years.
The concerns follow a weekend of protests at hotels housing asylum seekers, where 15 arrests were made. Demonstrations continued on Sunday, including at the Castle Bromwich Holiday Inn in Birmingham and outside the Britannia Hotel in Canary Wharf.
One female MP said she had reported an online rape threat to police after speaking up for asylum seekers. Labour’s Anna Dixon, MP for Shipley, revealed she had received death threats after Conservative MP Robbie Moore shared what she called misleading claims about her stance on grooming gangs.
MPs react
Other MPs, including Tonia Antoniazzi, Labour’s member for Gower, described the abuse as frighteningly polarised, with women in particular targeted by misogynistic attacks. Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer said the threats against her had escalated in recent months, including violent messages linked to her support for refugees and LGBTQ+ rights.
Several MPs who spoke out asked not to be named, fearing further abuse. A recent Speaker’s Conference survey found that only 52% of MPs felt safe in their role, with online abuse cited as the biggest concern.
The heightened tensions have coincided with far-right campaigns, including “Operation Raise the Colours”, which has encouraged the display of Union Jack and St George’s Cross flags across the country. Anti-extremist groups say known far-right activists are involved.
Police have made arrests in Essex and Hertfordshire after incidents linked to the campaign, including racist graffiti and a reported petrol bomb attack in Stevenage.
Brendan Cox, widower of murdered MP Jo Cox, warned that violent or extreme rhetoric from mainstream politicians risked fuelling hostility. “Threats to MPs don’t come from nowhere,” he said.
The government, meanwhile, is pushing ahead with a fast-track asylum appeals process to speed up deportations. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said Labour was determined to end the use of asylum hotels by 2029. Security minister Dan Jarvis condemned the threats, saying: “While there will always be a place for robust debate, there will never be a place for fear in our democracy.”
Read also: British travellers warned about Los Angeles protests
