Arrest over death threat made to ANOTHER Labour MP Ben Bradshaw after Jo Cox killing
POLICE have arrested a man after death threats were made to a gay Labour MP just hours after Jo Cox was shot dead in a Birstall street.
Ben Bradshaw MP faced a death threat and homophobic abuse just hours after the Jo Cox killing
An abusive phone call was made to Exeter MP Ben Bradshaw, according to officers who swooped to arrest a 37-year-old man amid heightened security fears following Mrs Cox’s death.
The call, recorded at the MP’s Westminster office, follows an alleged campaign of racist and homophobic abuse aimed at Mr Bradshaw and his staff.
Mr Bradshaw is openly gay and was the first cabinet minister to be in a civil partnership.
A copy of the message was handed over to Devon and Cornwall Police and a man was arrested in Exeter shortly afterwards.
Ben Bradshaw thanked police for acting 'swiftly' in arresting the 37-year-old
Officers confirmed a man from Exeter is currently being questioned over the incident.
A police statement said: “An abusive phone call to MP Ben Bradshaw was recorded on his office answering machine.
“The office contacted Parliamentary policy and Devon and Cornwall Police.
“A 37-year-old man from Exeter is in police custody for interview.”
Jo Cox was shot dead by a man who reportedly shouted 'put Britain first'
Jo Cox MP was shot and stabbed to death in her Batley and Spen constituency
I am grateful to the police for acting so swiftly
Mr Bradshaw, the former culture secretary, said: "I am grateful to the police for acting so swiftly."
Fears are growing for the safety of MPs after Mrs Cox – MP for Batley and Spen – was shot three times and stabbed to death near her constituency office by a man who witnesses say yelled: “Britain first”.
Mrs Cox, 41, is the first sitting MP to be killed since 1990, when Ian Gow was the last in a string of politicians to die at the hands of Northern Irish terror groups.