A Labour MP says she has received “threats of death and violence” since another MP claimed she was “misleading the public” over her stance on a national grooming gangs inquiry.
Anna Dixon, MP for Shipley, said she had been the subject of “misogynistic abuse” and “deeply offensive claims” after a video was posted on social media by Robbie Moore.
Moore, the Conservative MP for Keighley and Ilkley, condemned threats of violence against elected politicians or anyone in public life and said his video raised “legitimate concerns” over Dixon’s position.
Dixon said the video had been reported to the police and an investigation was under way. The BBC has contacted West Yorkshire Police for comment.
The video claims Dixon had “dismissed the need for a national inquiry”, citing the fact she voted against a Conservative amendment to the government’s Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill proposing such a review.
It also claimed she had tried to “undermine” Moore’s call for an inquiry to focus on grooming gangs in Bradford.
In a statement posted on her website, Dixon said: “It is irresponsible behaviour for an MP of any party to put out such blatant misinformation about a colleague.
“This is particularly true in the current climate, where politicians are under heightened security threats, and in the light of the tragic murders of two colleagues from both sides of the House of Commons in recent years.”
Dixon accused Moore of spreading “misleading information online” and inflaming “hatred” against her.
She said: “We must always put victims and survivors first when it comes to tackling the horrific crime of child sexual exploitation – this issue should never be used to make personal attacks based on party politics.”
In January, Dixon was one of 364 MPs who voted against the Conservative amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill, which called on the government to set up a national inquiry into grooming gangs.
Dixon said she had voted against the amendment because the way it had been proposed would have “effectively killed the Bill”.
She said she was “shocked” by Moore’s claim she would oppose a Bradford District focus, pointing to a letter sent to constituents on 6 August, in which she wrote that if a local inquiry was needed “this is something I and the Local Authority will fully support”.
Responding to Dixon’s statement, Moore said the video was “not a personal attack” and urged constituents to watch the full clip.
He said: “I have had armed police in my house at 3am in the morning as a result of receiving threats to life myself, and know exactly how it feels.
“The video raises legitimate concerns about the MP for Shipley’s public position on a grooming inquiry in Bradford.
“I have been fighting for an inquiry since being elected in 2019 and have been clear that this is not a political issue.
“The fact that the MP for Shipley does not and, from her public comments today, still does not unequivocally support a focus on Bradford in this national inquiry is both a newsworthy and legitimate concern.”
