LABOUR MP Dawn Butler has been forced to close her constituency office after the number of threats received “dramatically escalated” in response to her vocal support for Black Lives Matter. 

Ms Butler, who served as shadow women’s secretary in Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet, said that bricks had been thrown through the window of the office in north London and staff attacked outside. 

In a statement to her constituents earlier this week, the Brent Central MP wrote: “Sadly in recent months, the threat to myself and my staff has drastically escalated. 

“Last month, the police arrested one person and are currently pursuing others as I continue to speak out on key issues such as the impact of Covid-19 on the BAME community, the death of George Floyd and Black Lives Matter.

“I continue to receive on an almost daily basis threats of violence and death threats.”

Ms Butler said that the security risk, coupled with rising rent costs, had forced her to give up the office. 

She added: “I will never be threatened into silence and will continue to speak out and speak up for all of my constituents in Brent Central.”

Politicians expressed solidarity with Ms Butler on social media today.

Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner stressed: “We cannot allow thugs to intimidate MPs and their staff. Our democracy should not be silenced in such a way.”

Other black women MPs including Bell Ribeiro Addy and Marsha de Cordova have also reported receiving racist abuse after voicing support for the Black Lives Matter protests.