‘I’ll block online abusers’
MP BARRY HITS BACK AFTER NUMBER OF INTERNET TROLLS SOARS IN CRISIS
HUDDERSFIELD MP Barry Sheerman says the level of sickening personal abuse he suffers on social media has rocketed during the coronavirus crisis and he is now going to block anyone who is abusive.
The veteran Labour MP, who has represented the town for over 40 years, and who is an inveterate user of Twitter, says he has noticed an increase in abuse in recent weeks.
One of the printable remarks is that he “is a waste of good oxygen.”
Mr Sheerman, who will be 80 in August, said: “I think people are using social media to vent their stress and frustration. I have always been very reluctant to block people because I like to hear people’s opinions but when it’s just sheer abuse that’s a different matter.
“So in future if people send me an abusive message they will be blocked.”
A recent example was Mr Sheerman’s tweet asking Boris Johnson how many children he had, following the news the Prime Minister had fathered his sixth child.
He said: “I have a lot of time for Boris Johnson and we will see whether he turns out to be a great Prime Minister or not but why can’t I ask such a question without attracting a torrent of abuse?
“Is there some unwritten rule that he should be immune from questioning?
“Being an MP means holding government to account and I am determined to carry on doing that. I do that in a firm and helpful way.
“I can understand people who are living in cramped conditions and who are losing their jobs because of the coronavirus crisis suffering immense frustration but I would ask people to debate issues in a civilised way.”