Mike Freer will not run for re-election due to a number of 'serious threats'; had «heavy weight»; about him and his husband Photo: Elliott Franks
A Labor councilor was forced to apologize after appearing to celebrate a Conservative MP's announcement that he would resign at the next election due to threats to his safety.
Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, announced on Wednesday he would not stand for re-election as a series of «serious threats» weighed «heavily» on him and his husband.
In a letter published by his local Conservative association, he mentioned attacks by Muslims Against the Crusades, Ali Harbi Ali, who later killed MP Sir David Ames, and the alleged arson of his constituency office.
Ann Clarke , a Labor Party councilor and member of the London Assembly, shared Mr Freer's statement on X (formerly Twitter) and appeared to celebrate his decision to resign. On Wednesday night she wrote: «Theresa is only needed for a hat-trick of Barnet Tory MPs.»
Matthew Offord, the Conservative MP for Hendon, announced in May last year that he was resigning. Following Mr Freer's announcement, only Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, will stand for re-election in the London borough of Barnet.
Ms Clark received widespread backlash against her comments.
Alicia Kearns, chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, told the local Labor group, which was hosting Ms Clarke's campaign session on Wednesday, to apologize to Mr Freer.
She wrote on X: «Working to re-elect the man, who thinks it's acceptable to tweet about someone resigning because they've been the target of arson and death threats? Because they no longer feel safe as government employees?”
Fay Jones, Conservative MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, said: “When good people like Mike Freer resign, everyone wonders why. Ann. That's why Anne.»
Commander Clarke later apologized for the «insensitive» post and deleted it, saying she left the comments «without properly reading the letter» she was referring to.
p>She added: “I would never intentionally seek to cause controversy and discontent over such a serious issue as the personal safety of an elected official. Even if you've been in politics for a long time, mistakes can still be made, and it was a huge mistake on my part not to read the entire letter before commenting.
“My apologies. to everyone who was upset by my original post, which I almost immediately deleted.»
Mike Freer's constituency office was the target of a suspected arson attack in December
On Thursday, Richard Holden, chairman of the Conservative Party, called on Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labor Party, to intervene, saying: “His silence and inaction speak volumes about the kind of man he is and the kind of leader he is.”< /p>
In an interview with the Daily Mail on Wednesday, Mr Freer said he was «lucky to be alive» and that he and his husband were becoming «incredibly nervous» about their safety.
p>Mr Freer is not Jewish but has expressed support for the Jewish community and his constituency of Finchley and Golders Green has a large Jewish population.
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