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Labour MP speaks of safety fears after he’s targeted by masked pro-Palestine thugs
Luke Charters, MP for York Outer, says can of baked beans was thrown towards him in latest incident
A Labour MP has spoken out about the “growing intensity” of threats made to him by pro-Palestine activists from thugs wearing face-coverings.
Luke Charters, the MP for York Outer, revealed a can of baked beans was thrown towards him only last week by a group of activists who accused him of supporting genocide in Gaza.
He said his heavily pregnant wife Beth and two-and-a-half year old son were waiting to meet him near to where the can was thrown at him.
Charters told The Times: “I’m trying to support Beth as much as I can but instead, I’m forced to explain what are really serious and unsettling incidents that lead to emergency responses to protect my safety. I’m a father first and an MP second … no father should have to go through that.”
Last Saturday the MP revealed around 20 protesters tried to block entry to his constituency surgery, while chanting “Luke Charters you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide”.
The MP said the demo meant several locals who had booked to attend the surgery were frightened off from the meeting.
He told the newspaper: “There seems to be a growing intensity to these tactics. The most intimidating thing is when they’re wearing face coverings.”
Charters revealed he found scratches on his car after attending a recent Labour conference.
He is now calling for a ban on protests outside MPs’ surgeries.
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