Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman says death threat left him 'haunted'

Mr Sheerman called for more support to be offered to help MPs dealing with this type of situation

A Labour MP has said a death threat had left him feeling "absolutely haunted".

Huddersfield MP Barry Sheerman told the Commons a "gentleman" had said "he was coming to London to kill me".

He said the threat, issued 18 months ago, made him feel "frightened" to stand close to railway station platforms and caused him to "look behind" all the time.

The 83-year-old called for more support to be offered to help MPs dealing with this type of situation.

Speaking at business questions, Mr Sheerman described himself as "pretty robust" and "quite resilient" before telling the Commons about the incident.

"Over these last 18 months this has absolutely haunted me," he said.

"The gentleman that was coming to do nasty things to me was sectioned. But when he came out of the mental hospital, all I was told by the administration was he was 'out and he knows where you live'," the MP said.

"If it hadn't been for my family and friends' support I don't think I would have got through it.

"My home is now a fortress, my office is well protected and everything physically has been done to support, but there's very little support - or not enough support - when a member gets into this sort of situation," he added.

'Terrible thing'

Mr Sheerman, who has been an MP since 1979, appealed to Commons leader Penny Mordaunt to look at the help available to MPs, adding: "I think every member deserves better."

In response, she said: "We'll see what more we can do to support members in this."

She said: "He is absolutely right to get on record that this has a toll on an individual's wellbeing and resilience and mental health.

"It is a terrible thing to have to endure and, of course, MPs endure these things not just about harm to themselves but also their families, children and their staff, and that is a very great weight to carry."