Angela Eagle death threats: Merseyside Police arrest man in Scotland over agressive email and abuse

A man has been arrested on suspicion of sending death threats to Labour leadership candidate Angela Eagle. The 44-year-old is being questioned by Merseyside Police after being detained 200 miles away in Paisley, Scotland.

The Wallasey MP received vile abuse after launching a bid to oust Jeremy Corbyn as Labour leader and last week had a brick thrown through her constituency office window.

Corbyn condemned the vandalism to his challenger's office and said he himself had also received death threats.

A Merseyside Police spokesman said: "A 44 year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of making threats to kill. Officers from Merseyside Police executed a warrant in Paisley, Scotland, this morning, Friday 15 July, and arrested the man.

"He will be questioned by Merseyside detectives today. The arrest comes after an email was sent to the account of Wallasey MP Angela Eagle."

The arrest came the day of the funeral of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, who was shot and stabbed repeatedly in an attack outside a library in her Batley and Spen constituency in June.

In a statement released earlier this week, relatives of Cox said: "Knowing that so many people share both our grief and our determination to take forward Jo's legacy is a source of great strength at what otherwise feels like a very bleak time.

"Now, particularly for the children, we have decided that Jo's funeral will be a very small and private family affair. Anybody from the local community who would like to pay their respects is welcome to gather along the areas outlined as we make this last journey.

"Following this we would ask everyone to respect our privacy to enable us to grieve and rebuild as a family."

Luciana Berger, another Labour MP, has also been targeted by racists. TheMember of Parliament for Liverpool Wavertree received anti-semitic death threats and voiced concerns about what she said was an increasingly febrile political atmosphere.