DROP-IN SESSIONS AXED IN WAKE OF MP’S DEATH

Councillor says she is subjected to ‘relentless online trolling’

A Stoke-on-trent councillor has suspended her weekly advice surgeries due to safety concerns in the wake of MP David Amess’s killing.

Conservative politician Candi Chetwynd, inset, said she had taken the decision to cancel the drop-in sessions, but would still be present at street surgeries and ward walks.

It follows the tragic death of Sir David, who represented Southend and was stabbed at a constituency surgery.

A suspect has since been charged with his murder.

Ms Chetwynd, who represents

Smallthorne on Stoke-on-trent City Council, said: “I never got to meet this gentleman, but I have heard so many personal tributes about him from my colleagues.

“In light of yet another death of an elected representative, I am ensuring my safety.”

She stressed that she remains fully contactable by phone and email, but has had to prioritise her safety. Ms Chetwynd, who defected to the Conservative group, says she’s received threats since leaving the Labour Party earlier this year. She described suffering ‘relentless’ online abuse and harassment.

“I ran my weekly advice surgery from the moment I was elected in 2015,” she added. “The day Jo Cox was murdered, I was heavily pregnant and thought that I should think about my safety more, but I continued. Now we are five years on and another MP has died while doing their job.”

The weekly advice sessions had only just restarted with the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. But Ms Chetwynd will revert back to appointment-only meetings with residents due to safety fears.

She said: “Thankfully, I am still completely contactable by phone, email and post. I am also constantly on the ground in my ward, checking up on things in my ward walks, talking to residents and attending events.”

Ms Chetwynd said she has become increasingly concerned about receiving threats online and has had to be careful about how she uses her social media accounts. She said: “I am subject to what seems like relentless online trolling, which does concern me, but I won’t stop doing my job because people depend on me to stand up for them.”