This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/nov/15/daily-telegraph-brexit-mutineers-front-page-has-backfired-say-mps

The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 4 Version 5
Daily Telegraph 'Brexit mutineers' front page blamed for threats to MP Daily Telegraph 'Brexit mutineers' front page blamed for threats to MP
(35 minutes later)
Conservative MP Anna Soubry has blamed the Daily Telegraph front page depicting her as a “Brexit mutineer” for a series of threatening tweets her staff have reported to police. The Conservative MP Anna Soubry has blamed the Daily Telegraph front page depicting her as a “Brexit mutineer” for a series of threatening tweets her staff have reported to police.
Soubry, the MP for Broxtowe and an outspoken critic of the EU withdrawal bill, which is currently being debated by MPs, told the House of Commons: “According to my office, they have just reported about five, if not more, tweets to the police issuing threats against myself following the front-page article on today’s Daily Telegraph.” Soubry, the MP for Broxtowe and an outspoken critic of the EU withdrawal bill, which is currently being debated by MPs, told the House of Commons on Wednesday: “According to my office, they have just reported about five, if not more, tweets to the police issuing threats against myself following the front-page article on today’s Daily Telegraph.”
She asked the Speaker, John Bercow, to “make it very clear to everybody, in whatever capacity, that they have an absolute duty to report responsibly and make sure they use language that brings our country together and makes sure that we have a democracy that welcomes free speech and an attitude of tolerance”.She asked the Speaker, John Bercow, to “make it very clear to everybody, in whatever capacity, that they have an absolute duty to report responsibly and make sure they use language that brings our country together and makes sure that we have a democracy that welcomes free speech and an attitude of tolerance”.
Soubry said her office had deemed several tweets to be particularly threatening since the Telegraph article, One called for her and other Brexit mutineers to be hung drawn and quartered; another saying she deserved a similar fate to murdered MP Jo Cox. Her office said she had also received an email saying she should kill herself; and a Facebook message saying something similar. Soubry said her office had deemed several tweets to be particularly threatening since the Telegraph article – one called for her and other Brexit mutineers to be hung drawn and quartered; another saying she deserved a similar fate to murdered MP Jo Cox. Her office said she had also received an email saying she should kill herself, and a Facebook message saying something similar.
Bercow praised Britain’s free press, but said any threats to Soubry and her colleagues were “repugnant”, and “doomed to fail”. Bercow praised Britain’s free press, but said any threats to Soubry and her colleagues were “repugnant” and “doomed to fail”.
If fighting for the best possible future for our country and our government is considered mutiny - then bring it on. pic.twitter.com/fTvOXqwhF5If fighting for the best possible future for our country and our government is considered mutiny - then bring it on. pic.twitter.com/fTvOXqwhF5
The Daily Telegraph front page, vilifying 15 Conservative MPs as a band of “Brexit mutineers”, had already seen the newspaper accused of bullying and the rebels claim the description as a badge of honour.The Daily Telegraph front page, vilifying 15 Conservative MPs as a band of “Brexit mutineers”, had already seen the newspaper accused of bullying and the rebels claim the description as a badge of honour.
The MPs were pictured smiling on the front of the Telegraph after they indicated they would vote against Theresa May’s efforts to fix the date of Brexit for 29 March 2019.The MPs were pictured smiling on the front of the Telegraph after they indicated they would vote against Theresa May’s efforts to fix the date of Brexit for 29 March 2019.
However, government ministers were quick to disavow the front page, insisting that they did not want their party to be divided by the media and that they were working constructively with those Tories seeking improvements to the EU withdrawal bill.However, government ministers were quick to disavow the front page, insisting that they did not want their party to be divided by the media and that they were working constructively with those Tories seeking improvements to the EU withdrawal bill.
Alistair Burt, a Foreign Office minister, tweeted: “Fabulous collection of some of the best MPs in the country. How small the Telegraph appears in comparison.”Alistair Burt, a Foreign Office minister, tweeted: “Fabulous collection of some of the best MPs in the country. How small the Telegraph appears in comparison.”
A third Tory MP, Heidi Allen, who was also among the 15, said: “If fighting for the best possible future for our country and our government is considered mutiny – then bring it on.”A third Tory MP, Heidi Allen, who was also among the 15, said: “If fighting for the best possible future for our country and our government is considered mutiny – then bring it on.”
The MPs later won support from Labour colleagues fighting against a hard Brexit, with Chuka Umunna, a former shadow cabinet minister, saying the front page was “an ideological witch-hunt to bully Tory MPs to go against their instincts to do what they think best for our country”.The MPs later won support from Labour colleagues fighting against a hard Brexit, with Chuka Umunna, a former shadow cabinet minister, saying the front page was “an ideological witch-hunt to bully Tory MPs to go against their instincts to do what they think best for our country”.
“It’s no different from the Mail’s ‘crush the saboteurs’ nonsense. It will fail. You cannot muzzle democracy,” he said.“It’s no different from the Mail’s ‘crush the saboteurs’ nonsense. It will fail. You cannot muzzle democracy,” he said.
His fellow Labour MP Jess Phillips said: “I think it is disgraceful that she or anyone receives threats for expressing completely legitimate political opinions. Anna will I’m certain not be put off from doing what she thinks is best for our country by threats made by cowards – she is braver than them.”
Leading Brexiters also viewed the article as unhelpful. Steve Baker, a minister in the Department for Exiting the European Union, said: “I regret any media attempts to divide our party. My parliamentary colleagues have sincere suggestions to improve the bill which we are working through and I respect them for that.”Leading Brexiters also viewed the article as unhelpful. Steve Baker, a minister in the Department for Exiting the European Union, said: “I regret any media attempts to divide our party. My parliamentary colleagues have sincere suggestions to improve the bill which we are working through and I respect them for that.”