Ilford MP reveals anti-Semitic abuse after being called a ‘dirty Jew’
Year 6 with Michelle Belnikoff, a trustee of Onechild Ghana, and Lee Scott MP. - Credit: Archant
Ilford North MP Lee Scott has spoken out about the anti-Semitic abuse he has received – including being branded a “dirty Jew”.
The Conservative politician told a parliamentary debate on anti-Semitism yesterday (Tuesday) he had recently received a phone call in which he was subjected to the abuse – also being told he should be “stoned to death”.
Mr Scott also said hate crimes were under reported, in some cases due to fear.
He said: “I myself, who do report things, only the other week got a phone call calling me a dirty Jew and saying I should be stoned to death.”
Fellow Conservative MP Guto Bebb (Aberconwy) also said he had been called a “Jew lover”.
The Welsh MP said: “I have grown a very thick skin since becoming an MP but even I was quite shocked this summer to be accused on social media of being a ‘Jew lover’.
“Now, my wife, as far as I know, is a Welsh Protestant and I have not been unfaithful so therefore I would hope that attack is not literally correct.”
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He also said MPs had a responsibility to challenge social media companies for their lack of action.
Garron Helm, from Litherland, north of Liverpool, was handed a four-week custodial sentence at Merseyside Magistrates’ Court in October for sending an anti-Semitic tweet to Labour MP Luciana Berger.
MPs had previously been told the abuse against the Liverpool Wavertree MP continued via Twitter on a “violent and daily basis”.
In September Mr Scott joined fellow London MPs to discuss how to tackle the rising threat of anti-Semitism with home secretary Theresa May.
