The Natalie Fleet threat row has escalated after a Reform UK councillor shared a Facebook post saying the Labour MP “should be shot”. The post targeted Natalie Fleet, the Labour MP for Bolsover, and included a fake quote about a grooming gang inquiry.
Simon Evans, deputy leader of Lancashire County Council, shared the image on his Facebook page. The post showed Fleet’s photograph beside text that read: “You dozy cow, you should be shot.” It also falsely claimed she voted against a grooming gang inquiry.
Fleet said politicians should not accept “death threats as standard.” She explained that she sees posts like this often, yet they still upset her family. Moreover, she warned that this abuse could deter women from entering politics.
She said her husband and children urged her not to stand for election. However, she chose to run because she wanted to support her community. Furthermore, she stressed that representatives from every party must serve voters without facing violent rhetoric.
Evans deleted the post and issued a public apology. He said he failed to notice the accompanying text when he shared the image. Once someone highlighted the wording, he removed it immediately.
He called the incident a “genuine mistake.” In addition, he insisted he would never call for violence against anyone, regardless of political beliefs. He said this kind of language has no place in public life.
A Reform UK spokesperson said the party reviewed the matter. The party concluded that Evans made an honest mistake and confirmed it will not take further action. The spokesperson said the party accepts his apology and explanation.
The Natalie Fleet threat controversy comes amid wider concerns about conduct in politics. Fleet has spoken publicly about surviving grooming and rape as a teenager. Since entering Parliament, she has campaigned to strip parental responsibility from sex offenders when rape results in a child.
Meanwhile, Reform UK has suspended Adam Mitula, an interim campaign manager in the Gorton and Denton by-election. Reports claim he posted racist and misogynistic remarks online. Mitula says critics took his comments out of context, and the party continues its investigation.
Overall, the Natalie Fleet threat case has reignited debate about online abuse in politics. Many observers now argue that political leaders must confront hostile language quickly and firmly.
For more updates on this news, follow London Pulse News.
