UK

Angela Eagle cancels public meetings over security fears

File photo of Labour MP Angela Eagle who has cancelled her constituency surgeries as a result of abuse directed at her. Picture by Dominic Lipinski, Press Association
File photo of Labour MP Angela Eagle who has cancelled her constituency surgeries as a result of abuse directed at her. Picture by Dominic Lipinski, Press Association File photo of Labour MP Angela Eagle who has cancelled her constituency surgeries as a result of abuse directed at her. Picture by Dominic Lipinski, Press Association

LABOUR MP Angela Eagle has cancelled her constituency surgeries as a result of abuse directed at her.

The former Labour leadership contender said she had been advised by police not to hold the public advice sessions in her Wallasey constituency.

But Merseyside Police said the decision to cancel surgeries was a matter for the MP and her staff.

Ms Eagle told the Liverpool Echo: "Because we have been getting so much abuse direct to the office and the advice surgeries are normally done in public (the police) have sent me an email advising me to cancel them."

She said the police "basically think it might not be safe - they do not want them to go ahead at all" and added that fears had been heightened following the killing of fellow Labour MP Jo Cox.

She told the Echo: "I am going to take their (police) advice this time, but people can still contact my office by phone and email.

"They are talking to me about future arrangements in terms of security.

"It's with great reluctance that I'm doing this, but the safety of my staff is paramount."

Merseyside Police said it had offered advice to Ms Eagle - at her request - but had not told her to cancel surgeries.

Detective Chief Inspector Sarah Kenwright said: "We have given Ms Eagle advice about her surgeries, at her request, but the decision to cancel surgeries is not a police matter and would lie entirely with them".