Jeremy Corbyn and John Bercow ‘sent murder and decapitation threats’ during Brexit negotiations

Paul Ritchie, 34, is accused of sending a stream of threats to prominent politicians including Amber Rudd, Jo Swinson, Chuka Umunna and Dominic Grieve
Jeremy Corbyn legal action
Jeremy Corbyn was allegedly sent death threats and called a “terrorist”.
WEST END FINAL

Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories, opinion and expert analysis

I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice.

Senior MPs including Jeremy Corbyn and ex-Commons Speaker John Bercow were threatened with shootings, assassinations, and beheadings during the Brexit negotiations, it is alleged.

Paul Ritchie, 34, is accused of sending a stream of threats in 2019 to prominent politicians including former Home Secretary Amber Rudd, SNP leader Ian Blackford, and ex-Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson. 

Messages allegedly sent to Mr Bercow and the Speaker’s office referenced murdered MP Jo Cox and including the words: “If you thwart Brexit we will decapitate you.”

Ritchie, who lives in a village on the Scottish borders, is accused of sending two messages to Mr Corbyn when he was Labour leader, calling him a “terrorist”, suggesting he should be “hung for treason”, and adding: “Murdering you would be fully justified”.

It is said Ms Rudd, a prominent Remain campaigner, received two threatening messages, including an email stating: “You are definitely going to be assassinated”.

Richie is facing 28 charges of sending an electronic communication conveying a threatening message, with his case listed to be heard at Westminster magistrates court on February 25.

It is said he told Plaid Cymru leader Adam Price that he “deserve(s) to get shot in the face”, asked Ms Swinson if she was “trying to get shot”, and allegedly wrote to Mr Blackford: “I hope you die”.

The messages were all sent between March and August 2019, as the Brexit debate raged across the country and former Prime Minister Theresa May tried and failed to get her deal with the EU approved by Parliament.

Ex-Commons Speaker John Bercow was allegedly sent threatening messages
PA

She ultimately left Downing Street in July 2019, to be replaced by Boris Johnson.

Ritchie, who has not yet entered any pleas to the charges he faces, is also accused of targeting leading Remainers Chuka Umunna and Dominic Grieve.

It is said he told Mr Umunna “we will kill you and your entire family”, and allegedly wrote to Mr Grieve: “If you stop Brexit we will decapitate you”.

Dr Phillip Lee, a Conservative minister who resigned from the government over Brexit before defecting to the Lib Dems, was allegedly told: “If you bring down the government you will be murdered and your family will never be safe”.

And Ritchie is accused of writing to outspoken former Conservative MP Rory Stewart to say he is “likely to be assassinated”.

Lawyers for Ritchie have written to the court asking for his first court appearance to be delayed until April, or to appear via videolink if the February 25 hearing takes place.

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in