Reform UK councillor shared Facebook post saying Labour MP ‘should be shot’

Natalie Fleet MP says politicians should not expect ‘death threats as standard’, as Lancashire councillor apologises

A Labour MP has said politicians should not expect to face “death threats as standard” after a Reform UK councillor shared a Facebook post which said she “should be shot”.

The picture of Natalie Fleet, who has spoken previously about being groomed and raped as a teenager, was accompanied by a fake quote misattributed to her, which read: “I voted against the grooming gang enquiry.”

The Facebook post was shared by Simon Evans, the deputy leader of Lancashire council and cabinet member for children and families. He also reshared text accompanying the picture, which said “you dozy cow, you should be shot.”

Fleet, who is MP for Bolsover in Derbyshire, said: “Posts like this are so common I don’t bat an eyelid. However, they remind me why my husband and children begged me not to stand.

“My first thought is always for the loved ones who have to see it, and any women who may be put off of getting into politics in the future.”

She added: “The last Labour government helped me so much; I got into politics because I wanted to pay that forward and help others in my community. Whatever party, we should be able to fight for our areas without death threats as standard.”

Evans later deleted the post, saying in an apology on Facebook that he had made “a genuine mistake” and “did not notice the accompanying text”, and had removed the post “immediately” once it was brought to his attention.

“Yesterday, I shared a post featuring Natalie Fleet MP highlighting how she voted on the grooming gang inquiry. As many of you know, this is an issue close to my heart and something I have been campaigning on tirelessly even before I was elected,” Evans wrote.

“Unfortunately what I did not notice was the accompanying text of the Facebook post that was created by an unknown user. As soon as this was pointed out, I immediately deleted the post. I would never intentionally call for or wish violence upon anyone, regardless of their political beliefs. This sort of rhetoric has absolutely no place in our politics.”

He added: “I would like to sincerely apologise to Ms Fleet and anyone else for the offence caused. This was completely unintentional and was a genuine mistake that we can all make from time to time, especially on social media.”

A Reform spokesperson said: “After investigating the post, the party considers it an honest mistake and will not be taking any action. We accept Cllr Evans’ apology and version of events.”

Since entering parliament at the last general election, Fleet has successfully campaigned for the government to remove parental responsibility from sex offenders where a child is born of rape, a move she told parliament “will protect grooming victims”.

“I am proud to be part of a government who have set out an unprecedented ambition to halve violence against women and girls, but what I want us to think about on this day is how we tell our story,” Fleet previously told the House of Commons.

“I have spoken publicly about giving birth after being the victim of statutory rape, and I am sick of being told I am brave. I do not want to be brave; I want it to be expected that we tell our truth.”