Mcdonnell gets ‘two death threats a week’
Labour’s John Mcdonnell said he regularly receives two death threats a week as he called for calm as the general election campaign gets under way.
The shadow chancellor said politicians had “exploited” the Brexit result to “unleash forces” that were “dividing society”. He made the comments after being told by a migrant NHS worker how he and a surgeon colleague had been verbally abused following the 2016 referendum decision.
Speaking to London NHS workers at the public services trade union Unison’s headquarters, Mr Mcdonnell said he wanted more politicians to “follow the advice” given by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Most Reverend Justin Welby warned the Prime Minister and MPS last week that it was “extraordinarily dangerous to use careless comments” in what he described as a “very polarised and volatile situation”.
The Church of England leader made the comments after being asked about Boris Johnson dismissing MPS’ fears of death threats as “humbug”.
Mr Mcdonnell said: “We’ve all had continual death threats. I usually get about two a week now.
“That’s the sort of politics we have got at the minute. I think some politicians have exploited the issue around Brexit.”
The Labour Party’s secondin-command added: “I follow the advice given by Archbishop Welby. He said two weeks ago that we need to ensure we debate this issue in a civilised way and the language we use should bring people together again rather than dividing society.”
Labour-turned-independent MP John Woodcock has meanwhile announced he will not stand in the general election because he is expecting a baby with his journalist partner. Mr Woodcock and the Spectator magazine’s assistant editor Isabel Hardman made the announcement through a letter to his Barrow and Furness constituents.
He said the “unexpected but wonderful piece of news” means his life “has to change”.