Labour MP Rosie Cooper has hit out at ITV after the broadcaster released a drama series showcasing a terror plot to kill her. In September, ITV announced they would air a new drama covering the true story behind the murderous plan by convicted child sex offender and terrorist Jack Renshaw.
The five-part series titled The Walk In began on October 3 with the final episode airing on October 31, and covered how the murder plot was stopped by an undercover member of the campaign group Hope not hate, played by actor Stephen Graham.
But, the West Lancashire MP has now critisized ITV's decision to broadcast the drama detailing the harrowing real life events that she went through. The 72-year-old says she feels she has been used as a "marketing tool" by both ITV and Hope Not Hate.
Both ITV and Hope not hate said they were sympathetic over the 'horrific' ordeal Ms Cooper has experienced.
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Ms Cooper, who recently announced she will stand down from her seat, told the Commons: “I am appalled at ITV’s recent treatment of the threats to MPs.
“I have been used as a marketing tool by Hope Not Hate and ITV. What excuse is there for a press release that says ‘Who is Rosie Cooper, and who wanted to murder her?'.
“There is no defence to that. So, let’s test the public defence, the public interest defence, to their despicable behaviour and I call on Hope Not Hate and ITV to donate all money and profits generated from this TV series, both here and abroad, every single penny should go to the Jo Cox Foundation.
“We should not tolerate this kind of behaviour.”
ITV told the M.E.N. the series has never been described in this way in any ITV press release. However, Ms Cooper's office disputes this.
Her comments came after Conservative chair of the Foreign Affairs committee Alicia Kearns raised a point of order in the Commons chamber, detailing her concerns over the television drama.
Alicia Kearns asked the Commons Speaker for advice to ensure that “threats on the lives of our colleagues are not treated as entertainment”.
Raising a point of order, she said: “ITV has made a drama series about the heinous plan to murder the honourable lady for West Lancashire (Rosie Cooper), whose permission I have to make this point of order.
“What advice can you give to members in this situation to ensure that the facts are fairly presented, that threats on the lives of our colleagues are not treated as entertainment … and that these series do not risk re-victimising those of us still living under significant threat from life?”
Sir Lindsay Hoyle replied:” The House will know that the safety of members, our families and our staff in this House is one of my highest priorities.
“Like all members of this House, however, I would have thought that any depiction of threats made against parliamentarians is undertaken responsibly based on the facts and mindful of the impact of those subject to those such threats.
“Can I just say, I am also very concerned and a friend of mine was the person that undertook those threats.
“Now I have got to say I think we all stand in awe of the bravery that she’s shown and the courage to ensure that she is still a member of Parliament … even if she might be going to new pastures.”
Born in Liverpool, Ms Cooper was the daughter of deaf parents and is passionate about making society more accessible for people living with hearing impairments.
In 2017, her life was threatened by a member of the banned extreme right-wing group National Action, just a year after the brutal murder of colleague, Jo Cox.
Despite Jack Renshaw being handed a life sentence for threatening to murder the MP, Ms Cooper announced on 20 September 2022, that she would be standing down as MP, triggering a by-election.
She said recent events - the terror plot - had "taken their toll" and, after a period of "soul-searching", had taken up a role with the NHS in Merseyside.
Now 27, Renshaw bought a 19-inch knife to murder Rosie Cooper and exact revenge on PC Victoria Henderson, who was investigating him for grooming young boys.
Thankfully, his murderous plot to end the life of Ms Cooper and Victoria Henderson was foiled by informant Robbie Mullen.
An ITV Spokeswoman said: "We're very sympathetic to the horrific ordeal Rosie Cooper MP has experienced, but we'd like to point out that this has never been the emphasis of our press and marketing around the series, The Walk-In. The series has never been described in this way in any ITV press release.
"From Hillsborough, Bloody Sunday, Appropriate Adult, Little Boy Blue, A Confession to The Lost Honour of Christopher Jeffries, ITV has a long record of broadcasting factual dramas based on or representing real events. Like these, The Walk-In is an important story which we believe it is overwhelmingly in the public interest to broadcast. We always conduct the making of these series carefully and responsibly."
A Hope not hate spokesperson told the PA news agency: “We sympathise with Rosie Cooper for everything she has been through in recent years. No-one should endure murder threats simply for doing their job.
“Clearly, we are disappointed to hear Rosie’s words in the chamber today. In 2017, several members of our organisation worked tirelessly and at tremendous sacrifice to themselves to foil the murder plot against Rosie Cooper.
“This ITV drama and documentary highlight the very real danger of far-right extremism – especially for those in public life.”
The spokesperson added: “We cannot change what has happened to Rosie Cooper, but we can continue to work to tackle far-right extremism”
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