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MP received 25,000 abusive messages

September 8, 2016 10:22
Ruth Smeeth has had panic buttons installed at her home after receiving a death threat

ByMarcus Dysch, Marcus Dysch

2 min read

Ruth Smeeth, the Jewish MP who has police protection after receiving an antisemitic death threat, has said the "vile, disgusting" abuse was carried out "in the name" of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

The 37-year-old was repeatedly referred to as a "Yid" in an abusive message which claimed "the gallows would be a fine and fitting place" for her "to swing from".

Ms Smeeth, who has previously worked for the Community Security Trust and Board of Deputies, said: "It's vile, it's disgusting and it's done in the name of the leader of the Labour Party. I know Jeremy Corbyn will condemn this but it's about what people are doing in his name."

In her comments to the BBC last Friday she said she had received more than 25,000 abusive messages since the end of June, the majority of them within a 12-hour period on one day.

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