Jess Phillips confronts Boris Johnson in voting lobbies over Commons language row
3 min read
Jess Phillips has accused Boris Johnson of "stoking hate" after confronting him over his use of language in the House of Commons.
The Labour MP squared up to the Prime Minister in the voting lobbies and told him he had been quoted in a death threat she received.
Meanwhile, police arrested a man outside Ms Phillips' constituency office after he allegedly shouted "fascist" while hitting the doors and windows.
The Birmingham Yardley MP had earlier demanded the PM apologise for comments he made in a heated Commons debate on Brexit on Wednesday.
Mr Johnson came under fire for telling MPs that the best way to honour the memory of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox was to "deliver Brexit".
He was confronted by Ms Phillips as the pair voted on the Tories' unsuccessful bid to hold a mini-recess next week so its MPs can attend the party's conference in Manchester.
She told the Daily Mirror: “I asked how he felt about being quoted in a death threat to me. He exhaled in that way he does and had nothing to say.
“I asked why he felt divisive language and stoking hate was a good strategy. He said his prepared line that he wants to deliver Brexit.”
But Tory MP Nadine Dorries said the PM “could barely get a word in”.
She said on Twitter: “I was there. The only finger jabbing and raised voice came from Jess as her friends photographed and filmed it.
“The PM could barely get a word in and was embarrassed and bemused as Jess shouted.”
Culture Secretary Nick Morgan said: "I was standing next to both of them - no raised voices or finger jabbing - just sincerely held views on both sides exchanged in a normal conversation between MPs."
Speaking to Sky News, Ms Phillips said her staff were locked inside her constituency office while a man shouted outside.
West Mindlands Police said: "Police were called to reports of a disturbance outside an address on Yardley Road in Acocks Green, Birmingham just before 2.25pm on Thursday afternoon.
"A 36-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of a public order offence and possession of cannabis.
"He's been taken into police custody and will be questioned in due course."
Meanwhile, Mr Johnson’s sister Rachel condemned his comments in the House of Commons “particularly tasteless”.
Appearing on Sky News debate show The Pledge, she said: "My brother is using words like 'surrender' and 'capitulation' as if the people standing in the way of the blessed will of the people, as defined by the 17.4 million votes in 2016, should be hung, drawn, quartered, tarred, and feathered.
"I think that is highly reprehensible.
"I hope today in the Commons there will be some sort of deal on all sides that this sort of thing is utterly dialled down.”
She also told Radio Four's World at One that her brother is a “different person” in Parliament.
“I love him very much…perhaps if you put a man in front of the despatch box he becomes a completely different person. It becomes a kind of bully pulpit.”
A Downing Street spokesperson said earlier on Thursday: "The PM is very clear that whatever their views, no MPs or anyone else in public life should face threats or intimidation. It is completely unacceptable...
"Whatever their views, no MPs or anyone else in public life should face threats or intimidation."
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