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.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
