A Jewish parliamentary assistant has been warned by police after claims that she had harrassed an MP on Twitter.

But Elaina Cohen denied she had targeted Labour’s Naz Shah on the social media site, and has in turn complained to the party’s chief whip about what she called “frankly ludicrous allegations”.

It is believed Ms Shah, MP for Bradford West, complained to police about two tweets sent by Ms Cohen earlier this month.
Ms Cohen told the Daily Mail she had in the past posted messages about Ms Shah and about “the Labour leadership’s anti-Zionist stance”.

Ms Shah is an aide to Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell and is a leading critic of Israel. During a debate in Westminster Hall last month, she attacked the Israeli government over its detention of Palestinian youths who throw rocks or stones at civilians.

Ms Cohen told the Mail that she believed Ms Shah had “abused her position” by turning to the police.

“It’s the Corbynistas, if they don’t like someone they try to get them sacked,” she said.

In an added twist Ms Cohen claimed police had told her the spat could be over “jealousy” surrounding another Labour MP, Khalid Mahmood.

Ms Cohen has been Mr Mahmood’s assistant for more than a decade. They were previously in a relationship, but Ms Cohen said they were now “just colleagues”.

She said: “The policewoman who visited me said that Mrs Shah believes I’m jealous of her close relationship with Khalid. I believe they are close friends, but I have nothing to be jealous about.”

Ms Shah has not commented. Mr Mahmood said he could not comment on Ms Cohen’s employment status after it was suggested she may have been suspended from her role.