Jess Phillips: MP warned to 'be afraid, be very afraid' in death threats after office attacked
A man was arrested outside the Labour MP's constituency office after allegedly "smacking the windows" and shouting "facist".
Friday 27 September 2019 20:20, UK
MP Jess Phillips has told Sky News she feels "jumpy and worried and frightened" after a man was arrested outside her constituency office yesterday and she received death threats overnight.
A sign in the windows of her office reads: "Sorry. We're closed today on security advice. Surgery tonight has been cancelled."
Inside the MP for Birmingham Yardley and her staff were still taking calls from members of the public.
"I feel desperately upset," she told Sky News. "As I pull up to my office my constituents are having to be turned away... I just feel like they're suffering and that's annoyed me.
"The rational part of my brain says that I'm probably okay, but yeah, I feel jumpy and worried and frightened.
"I am worried for my family, although they would tell [me] that they're fine and that it's fine," she said.
She showed Sky News one of the emails she has forwarded to the police.
It reads, "Unless you change your attitude, be afraid, be very afraid... wherever you are, keep looking over your shoulder. The person standing behind you may not be friendly. You and your Remain friends have been warned."
Ms Phillips said: "The other thing that happened yesterday is that all day the phones in my Westminster [office] had to eventually be switched off because the line was being jammed with people.
"I won't say what they were shouting because I'm not sure it's fit for the television, but using words like 'traitor'," the Labour MP added.
Asked if she's had death threats she said, "Yeah, lots.
"There's at least ten people threatening me in some way or another... death or violence of some sort."
:: Listen to the All Out Politics podcast on , , ,
Ms Phillips said today: "I shall carry on serving the people. I'll be alright.
"I know that everybody wants me to sit and say that I blame Boris Johnson. I think that he isn't helping.
"The problem is that this is being inflamed by our current politics and we all have a responsibility to dial it down. So, yes, I have behaved badly in the past in the chamber. That has never filtered into the streets...
"I don't blame Boris Johnson, but if he doesn't change his strategy, I absolutely will."