Barking MP Margaret Hodge alerts police about anti-Semitic emails
Barking MP Margaret Hodge - Credit: Vickie Flores
Margaret Hodge has spoken out about being the target of anti-Semitic emails.
The Barking MP, whose Jewish parents fled Nazi Germany in the 1930s, has had to pass on two racist messages to the police in the past seven days.
An outspoken critic of Jeremy Corbyn having instigated the vote of no confidence that brought about the current Labour leadership battle, Mrs Hodge has called on the party’s top brass to step in and better protect their MPs.
“In the last week I have received two offensive anti-Jewish emails which I have referred to the local police,” she said.
“I have been in public life for over 20 years and I have never received anything like this before.
“This kind of behaviour has no place in the Labour party or British politics.”
The revelations come as Barking and Dagenham councillors signed a pledge to “stand up and stamp out” hate crimes, including racism and xenophobia, at last night’s assembly meeting.
Most Read
- 1 Revealed: Your favourite fish and chip shop in east London
- 2 Two arrested after man 'seriously assaulted' in row over parking
- 3 Dispersal order authorised near Barking Park due to antisocial behaviour
- 4 Company fined in court over builder's skips in Dagenham and Chadwell Heath
- 5 Travel bulletin: Havering, Redbridge, Barking and Dagenham
- 6 Boy, 5, dies after 'unexplained' incident off Heathway
- 7 Dagenham man fined within hours of fly-tipping at bus stop
- 8 Dagenham man jailed for 12 years for punching to death Marius Lakavicius
- 9 Maskless passengers on London trains and buses fined 4,000 times
- 10 Abba Voyage: A spectacular trip into an enchanted world
The pledge will now be offered out to local businesses and residents to sign.
“We are proud to live in a diverse and tolerant borough and condemn racism, xenophobia and hate crimes unequivocally,” said Cllr Sade Bright, cabinet member for equalities and cohesion.
“We will not allow hate to ruin lives or to become acceptable.
“I would like to reassure all our residents and people working or visiting our borough that they are valued members of our community.
“We will publically condemn any such attacks and make it clear the steps we will take to tackle such behaviour.”