Police study online death threat to bishop who intervened in row

POLICE are looking into a death threat made to a bishop after she criticised the Prime Minister’s adviser Dominic Cummings.

Helen-ann Hartley, the Bishop of Ripon, reported the matter to North Yorkshire Police as some of the Church of England’s other senior figures also reported receiving hate mail and death threats.

Bishop Hartley posted online: “‘Stay out of politics or it will be the death of you’ was one of the emails I received today. Thank you to those who have sent supportive messages.”

She had earlier written about missing her father’s birthday during the lockdown as he recovered from radiotherapy. Bishop Hartley said she was “following up” the email with police.

North Yorkshire Police said in a statement: “A complaint has been made to North Yorkshire Police and inquiries are ongoing into the matter.”

John Inge, the Bishop of Worcester, tweeted that he received an email, warning “stay out of politics or we’ll kill you” after he criticised Boris Johnson’s “risible defence” of Mr Cummings on Sunday night.

Christine Hardman, Bishop of Newcastle, wrote: “I, too, received such an email. I feel concern for the person who sent it and will hold him or her in prayer.”

The previous night she had posted that she was “deeply troubled” by the Prime Minister’s defence of his adviser.

Paul Bayes, the Bishop of Liverpool, added that he had also received abuse, writing: “Public life in Britain today. Many of us have received this sort of message. It doesn’t work.” The bishops were among a number of Church of

England representatives who had condemned Boris Johnson for standing by his adviser over his trip from London to County Durham during the national lockdown.

Paul Butler, the Bishop of Durham, tweeted: “There will be those in Durham who defend Boris for his standing by Dominic Cummngs.

“But most who have worked so hard to abide by the rules and guidance of the past weeks will feel hurt, angry & let down. Trust has been broken. For the nation’s sake, rebuild it quickly.”

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has not commented publicly on Mr Cummings’s case, but recently warned the Government that cuts to public spending after the coronavirus outbreak would be “catastrophic”.

In an interview with the BBC, Mr Welby had said “going for austerity again would be the most terrible mistake”.