Pro-Leave protestors abused SNP MP Joanna Cherry as a "traitor" aftertoday's crunch Westminster Brexit vote.
Very relieved to be safely back to my base in London. Was abused by trailing ends of the #LeaveMeansLeave protest as I walked home. Called a traitor. Told to go back to my own country. Such a contrast from #PeoplesVoteMarch last weekend #BrexitChaos
— Joanna Cherry QC MP (@joannaccherry) March 29, 2019
The politician - a leading campaigner against leaving the European Union - tweeted that she had been told to "go back to her own country" as she left the House of Commons.
One of the protesters
Ms Cherry this week led a failed parliamentary charge to revoke Article 50 and was on her way to do media interviews in College Green when she was, she said, abused.
Earlier she had tweeted that the atmosphere was "intimidatory" outside Parliament and that she was being prevented from getting to journalists to get on TV.
I’m outside Parliament just now. Very intimidatory atmosphere. Currently prevented from getting to College Green to do media #BrexitMayhem pic.twitter.com/DXOJx7QC67
— Joanna Cherry QC MP (@joannaccherry) March 29, 2019
In another tweet, she said: "I made it having run the gauntlet to shouts of 'traitor'... very important that freedom of speech survives the forces of intimidation amongst the Brexit mayhem."
The former Tory MP Anna Soubry had been jeered in the same place earlier this year, raising fears for the safety of politicians.
This is the worst I’ve seen it yet. Venomous abuse & threatening behaviour. I passed someone this morning yelling at a woman to ‘get out of my country’. In fairness the pro-Brexit protesters who are here daily tend to be forthright but polite. This is a different crowd altogether https://t.co/8SgcJxbe8r
— Stewart McDonald MP (@StewartMcDonald) March 29, 2019
Ms Cherry's colleague Stewart McDonald earlier described the atmosphere outside the Houses of Parliament as "the worst" he had seen yet. He tweeted that there was "venomous abuse and threatening behaviour" - in contrast to pro-Leave protests that he usually considered "forthright but polite".
Previously the UKIP leader Gerard Batten had falsely claimed police intended to mobilise water cannons to counter Westminster protests. London police do not have water cannons. Some observers said his claim, made in a tweet, would heighten tensions.
Mr Batten, who has run UKIP since February last year, later partially acknowledged his error but did not delete the inaccurate tweet.
He said: "I am pleased to say the Met have said there will no water cannon today. My reports were from a reliable source and they did say they were coming from elsewhere. The Met have always been helpful at previous events, for which I am grateful. I repeat my call for a peaceful day all round."
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