Coventry MP more conscious than ever of security

Zarah Sultana is the MP for Coventry South

Zarah Sultana has said she is more conscious than ever of her security, as police brace for possible riots after days of violent disorder.

The Coventry South MP said people “are living in fear of violence” and some of her family and friends were “not going out because of this”.

It follows advice from the Commons speaker, telling MPs to consider their security protocols.

There has been a wave of riots and disorder since the fatal stabbings of three girls in Southport last week.

False rumours initially spread on social media, saying the attacker was a Muslim asylum seeker.

The suspect was later identified as Wales-born 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana, who has been charged with murdering the three girls.

The government has said 6,000 specialist police officers were on standby to deal with any further trouble.

Ms Sultana told BBC CWR said the situation was “truly frightening” and linked it to “rhetoric and discourse that has been permeating through our media and the highest offices in the country”.

She said social media companies had to “tackle online misinformation that has spread a lot of this violence across our communities”.

But she said the violence did “not reflect the majority of the Brtish public”.

“We have seen communities come together across towns and cities,” Ms Sultana said.

In an email to MPs, Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said members who have high-profile constituency offices should consider working from home.

“We have no information to suggest that Members or their offices are targets for this activity. However, we note the spontaneity and unpredictable nature of the disorder, and would therefore encourage Members and their offices to exercise caution,” Mr Hoyle said.

Coventry and Warwickshire has not seen any disturbances, but the trouble is persisting elsewhere and has been seen in nearby Birmingham and Tamworth.

When asked if she was taking any extra security precautions, Ms Sultana said: “If I’m honest, for the longest time I’ve had to increase my security.

“I was informed by parliamentary authorities that I received most online abuse of any MP, and it is often linked to my Muslim faith, being a woman of colour, and my left-wing politics.

“I am more conscious than ever of my security and it is frightening, I have to be honest.”

Ms Sultana currently sits as an independent MP in the House of Commons.

She was suspended from the parliamentary Labour Party after she rebelled against the government in a vote about a two-child cap on benefits.

Ms Sultana said she was still a paid-up Labour member and her constituency office was “running as normal”.

“My whip is suspended for a period of six months, which the party will then review and tell me what they want moving forward,” she said. “I am respecting the process.”