Brexit supporter who hit Jeremy Corbyn with egg is jailed

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A Brexit supporter who yelled “respect the vote” as he hit Jeremy Corbyn while holding an egg has been jailed for 28 days.

John Murphy, 31, admitted a charge of assault by beating after attacking the Labour leader as he visited a mosque in Finsbury Park, north London, earlier this month.

The 3 March attack in Mr Corbyn’s constituency came less than a week after his party announced it would support a second referendum on EU membership and amid heightened tensions over Brexit.

Remain-supporting politicians have told of receiving death threats of their EU stance and MPs have been warned about their safety.

Chief magistrate Emma Arbuthnot had warned Murphy before sentencing him that he faced jail to send a clear message that ”attacks on MPs must stop”.

Mr Corbyn, in a statement read to Westminster Magistrates’ Court, said he was “shocked and surprised” by the egging, which happened on an open day at the mosque.

“I feel these kind of attacks drive a wedge between elected representatives and those who elect them in the first place. We are now reviewing and increasing my security protection,” he said.

Mr Corbyn was attacked while visiting Muslim Welfare House with shadow home secretary Diane Abbott. They had earlier been to nearby Finsbury Park mosque, which was the site of deadly terror attack by far-right extremist Darren Osborne in June 2017.

Prosecutor Kevin Christie told the court that Mr Corbyn took off his shoes and sat down next to his wife Laura Alvarez and a group of people who seemed to be “in great spirits”.

“Suddenly, he felt a strike to the right side of his forehead and then realised someone had reached over his right shoulder and struck him,” Mr Christie said.

“As he was struck he heard a male voice shouting: ‘Respect the vote.”’

Mr Corbyn, after washing off the egg to reveal a red mark, witnessed a “very aggressive” Murphy being restrained while his face was “contorted” with rage.

Murphy, of Whetstone, Barnet, in northwest London, continued to shout “respect the vote” as he was held.

The Labour leader said in the victim impact statement that he was “determined” to continue to interact with the public, but accepted he must now “be more cautious”.

Malik Aldeiri, representing Murphy in court, suggested the Labour leader’s statement was “slightly over egged in the sense that Mr Corbyn himself hasn’t suffered any impact”.

But Ms Arbuthnot said: “This is a public servant and attacks on MPs must stop. The message must go out – this must stop.” she said.

Mr Christie added: “This was an unprovoked attack on a politician carrying out official duties. Although Mr Corbyn was not seriously hurt, Murphy had come with a number of eggs that he could have used had he not been detained quickly.

“Assaults on public servants affect the very fabric of our democratic society ... This case clearly sends out a message that such behaviour will not be tolerated and perpetrators will correctly be brought before the courts.”

In recent days, independent MP Anna Soubry said she was targeted by “very, very serious” death threats and Labour’s Lloyd Russell-Moyle said a man shouting “traitors” grappled with him in an attempted assault.

MPs have also been warned by Commons deputy speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to travel by taxi or with colleagues because of the hostile climate.

Theresa May has faced severe criticism from MPs, who accused her of whipping up anger and putting them at risk by blaming them for delaying Brexit in a Downing Street speech last week.