Lloyd Russell-Moyle: Labour MP blames Theresa May after he is attacked in Kemptown street
The prime minister 'has whipped up fear and division with her speech'
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Your support makes all the difference.An MP has blamed Theresa May after he says he was assaulted in the street.
Lloyd Russell-Moyle said his attacker called him a “traitor” while he was out promoting a final vote on Brexit before grabbing his glasses and trying to hit him.
The incident, on Thursday afternoon, came less than 24 hours after Mrs May gave a speech on Brexit in which she blamed MPs for deliberately delaying her attempts to ensure the UK leaves the EU on 29 March.
In a series of tweets, Mr Russell Moyle, Labour MP for Brighton Kemptown, said the prime minister had “whipped up fear and division”.
Detailing the incident, he wrote: “I was out today in the street of Kemptown with @itvnews, a vast majority want to remain and have a final say vote on deal vs remain. Unfortunately at the end of the day a man came up and started shouting at the TV crew and me. Saying MPs are the problems & we are traitors.
“He tried to assault me, grabbed & bent my glasses and for a moment I thought he was going to hit me. 3 grown men had to prise him off me. This is not normal.”
Speaking to the Brighton Argus after the incident – in which he said he was not hurt – he added: “This gentleman came out of Morrisons and said ‘Why the hell are you doing this, you’re trying to deny the will of the people?’
“He got very agitated and lunged for me. He was clearly angry and probably a bit disturbed. It sums up what Brexit is all about. Nasty, vengeful and without any logical arguments.”
He went on: “Theresa May said last night that it’s her vs MPs, that MPs have frustrated the will of the people.
“If something far worse happens to other MPs because of what she’s said it will be on her.”
The suspected attacker, himself, walked off after the incident, the newspaper reports.
The Independent has contacted Sussex Police for comment.
It comes on the same day the Independent Group MP Anna Soubry said she was too scared to go home because of Brexit death threats.
The former Tory and hard-line Remainer said: "This is the reality of it, that's why the language that politicians and indeed everybody uses, including the media, is so important."
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