Stamp out this toxic culture, says death threat MP
POLITICIAN LEFT FEARING FOR HIS FAMILY’S SAFETY
A GREATER Manchester MP has told how he and his family were plunged into fear after receiving death threats.
In the wake of the stabbing to death of fellow MP David Amess, Oldham’s Jim McMahon has spoken of his ordeal.
Mr McMahon, MP for Oldham West and Royton since 2015, was targeted by Daniel Arthur Fink, 43, of Princess Street, Eccles, who earlier this month was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months, and a £500 fine, after admitting sending the vile threats.
Mr McMahon said: “When the messages started coming in I felt deep distress. It was threatening. We didn’t know who they were or where they lived.
“You can’t take chances, this is your family home. You have to get on a train and travel 200 miles to parliament knowing your family is left without you there. It makes you feel vulnerable.”
In his victim statement, heard by Manchester magistrates, Mr McMahon added: “No-one should be allowed to make another person fear for their own life, or those they care about, or be subjected to abuse.”
Referring to the tragic death of Southend MP Sir David, who was stabbed to death on Friday while holding a routine constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church, he added: “There’s a danger that what happened will be seen as an isolated incident when actually we all need to reflect on how the toxic environment in politics affects every MP in parliament, regardless of their political affiliation or party. “Online content is going unchecked – misinformation, lies and conspiracy – and people who are susceptible are drawn into it.
“David’s death is a horrendous situation in all of our minds but there also needs to come a point where we stand up and call out the toxic nature of politics that incites people to do things like this.” Mr McMahon argues that, while newspapers and television shows are regulated, social media is ‘self-moderated.’ In a Facebook post on Tuesday, he called for social media platforms to be held to account in the same way that print and TV media are. He added: “Failing to address the very content which incites hatred, and which is itself unlawful, erodes the standards of democratic discourse which is now near breaking point.”
There needs to come a point where we call out the toxic nature of politics that incites people to do things like this.
Jim McMahon MP