MP Mike Weatherley reports Twitter 'kill' threat to police
An MP has called in police after
receiving a death threat on Twitter
for calling on David Cameron to speak
out against Russia's anti-gay
legislation.
Mike Weatherley, Conservative MP for
Hove and Portslade, said Twitter trolls
should not be allowed to make threats
while lurking behind their computers.
A Twitter user with almost 1,500
followers replied "kill Weatherley" to a
tweet by Pink News about the MP.
Sussex Police said it was investigating the
content and source of the message.
Mr Weatherley wrote to the Prime
Minister on 29 July highlighting concerns
about anti-gay laws passed in Russia
ahead of it hosting the 2014 Winter
Olympics.
Stephen Fry letter
He told Mr Cameron Britain had "a duty
not to stay silent".
The MP received the death threat tweet
after the Pink News tweeted an article
about Mr Weatherley's letter.
"Twitter trolls cannot be allowed to hide
behind their computers when making
threats like this," said Mr Weatherley.
"There is absolutely no way that I will
allow this intimidating kind of behaviour
to change my stance on this matter, as I
will continue to stand up for gay rights
both in Russia and around the world."
A Sussex Police spokesman said: "We
have been made aware of a message on
Twitter in which Hove MP Mike
Weatherley is threatened.
"We are investigating the content and
source of the message."
The controversy in Russia was sparked
after politicians in its lower house of
parliament, the Duma, passed a law
imposing heavy fines for providing
information about homosexuality to
people under 18.
It led to broadcaster Stephen Fry writing
an open letter urging Mr Cameron to
support moves to strip Russia of the
Winter Olympics.
