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LABOUR MP Chris Williamson refused to bow to “thuggery” yesterday after a meeting in Brighton was cancelled with the venue subjected to threats of violence.
Mr Williamson had been booked to speak at a meeting in the south coast city on Thursday evening in the Holiday Inn.
I was due to speak on Thurs at the Holiday Inn Brighton, but they’ve had to cancel after two men turned up to threaten their staff. They also had abuse on personal social media accounts and were called “c*nts” on the phone. Will you join me in condemning this outrage, @peterkyle? pic.twitter.com/WJ7jEQVrnw
— Chris Williamson MP #GTTO (@DerbyChrisW) August 6, 2019
But in an email seen by the Star the venue cancelled the booking amid fears over the safety of its staff.
Two men are understood to have approached the Holiday Inn and threatened hotel workers because they were hosting the MP for Derby North.
The venue was also subjected to abuse on personal social media accounts and called c***s in a string of abusive phone calls.
Holiday Inn management felt they had no alternative but to cancel the booking.
It said: “Over the last 24 hours, our hotel and employees have been subjected to abuse and threats from members of the public on phone, on email, and on social media outlets.
“We cannot allow our guests and employees to be put at potential harm and we will therefore have to cancel your booking with the Holiday Inn Brighton.”
Mr Williamson has been targeted with spurious claims of anti-semitism and suspended from the Labour Party, with the right clamouring for his expulsion.
But he remains enormously popular with the grassroots membership who have continued to offer support and solidarity in what they see as bureaucratic measures against the left and an attempt to derail the Corbyn project.
Mr Williamson remained undeterred and said he refused to be intimidated into silence.
Tomorrow’s meeting will go ahead “even if we have to hold it outdoors,” he told the Star.
“We will never allow thuggery and intimidation to stifle freedom of speech,” he said.
Holiday Inn Brighton were contacted for comment.
