A Conservative MP has shared a “traitors hang” death threat that she received and pledged to call out “cowards” seeking to intimidate her.
Virginia Crosbie warned that “corrosive behaviour” was driving women out of politics after an image of a noose and a handwritten note were delivered to her constituency office in Holyhead, North Wales.
Mrs Crosbie said: “I will not be stopped from doing the job I was elected to do by the people of Anglesey, and the coward or cowards who sent this note will not undermine democracy.
“Too many times, this sort of behaviour is tolerated – but not by me. I will call out and relentlessly use all the avenues available to pursue all those who threaten myself, my family and my staff.
“This corrosive behaviour is harming democracy and stopping people, especially women, from standing for public office.”
Mrs Crosbie, the MP for Ynys Môn, said the note had been opened by a member of staff two days before Christmas. North Wales Police and parliamentary liaison officers have launched an investigation.
Recently, Matt Hancock, the former health secretary, revealed details of the abuse he had suffered both during and after his time in office.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Mr Hancock said people had called for his “public execution” and he had been targeted by anti-vaxxers online.
He said he had taken advice from Tony Blair, the former prime minister, who urged him not to look at his notifications on social media to avoid seeing threats and invective, adding that Mr Blair had said: “Just don’t look at Twitter. What on Earth are you looking at that for?'”
Mr Hancock is working with Rupa Huq, the Labour MP, to establish a new public body to help curb the online abuse of prominent people and encourage more productive public debate.
