Police are investigating an attack on a senior Labour MP’s constituency office after she abstained on the Gaza vote.
Jo Stevens’ office in Cardiff was sprayed with red paint and posters were put up accusing her of having “blood on her hands”.
The incident at the Cardiff Central MP’s office in Albany Road took place on Thursday evening where an “emergency vigil” was also held by supporters of a ceasefire in Gaza.
A police spokeswoman said: “South Wales Police is investigating criminal damage to a property on Albany Road. A number of items have been seized for examination and enquiries are on-going.”
The shadow Welsh secretary supported a three-line whip by Labour to abstain on an SNP amendment to the King’s Speech calling for a ceasefire and instead back party leader Sir Keir Starmer’s position of longer “humanitarian pauses”.
Sir Keir faced a major rebellion as 56 Labour MPs – including 10 shadow ministers and parliamentary aides – defied the whip and supported the SNP.
Ms Stevens said: “Unlike those involved in this so called ‘vigil’ I don’t require them to agree with my view on how an urgent cessation of violence in Gaza and Israel can best be practically achieved to immediately alleviate innocent civilian suffering.
The constituency office of Labour MP Jo Stevens in Albany Road, Cardiff, which was sprayed with red paint— (PA)
“I unequivocally support the right to protest. But this goes way beyond that. This is criminal damage. It is intimidation and incitement.
“This is a workplace and my staff team and I, as well as my constituents who come to my office every day for help, should be able to do so without fear and in safety.”
Naz Shah, one of the shadow ministers to resign in order to support the ceasefire motion, said she had received “Islamophobic hatred” that she had reported to the police.
She told Times Radio that the vandalism to her colleague Ms Stevens’ office was “appalling”.
“Clearly I’m concerned about all the people getting this vile abuse,” she said. “I’m concerned for my staff. I’m concerned for every MP… right now who is getting the emails, the telephone messages, the abuse on telephone messages.
“All the people who are having to stay indoors because there are threats flying around and police are having to drive around their homes.
“It is worrying, it is frightening. And it is not a nice place for any MP, anybody who is on the receiving end of the abuse.”
The Bradford West MP said Labour’s own amendment on the Gaza conflict tabled on Wednesday “didn’t go far enough” and that she felt compelled to vote for a ceasefire after seeing “horror after horror” unfold in the Middle East.
