An MP says he has received a full apology from a corporate lawyer who posted online that he should be ‘lynched’.
Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald told the House of Commons yesterday that Andrew Lindsay had written on his LinkedIn account following a developer’s decision to reportedly build a new facility in Tyneside rather than Teesside. This had followed Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Middlesbrough South MP Sir Simon Clarke both blaming McDonald after he raised allegations of corruption in parliament regarding the oversight of development works in the region, which have led to a government review.
McDonald recounted that Lindsay posted: ‘If it turns out the enquiry concludes that "there is nothing to be seen here" and in the meantime some investment and jobs are lost, local Labour MP, Andy McDonald…should be dragged through the streets of Teesside and lynched.’
McDonald said the post had ‘deeply upset and alarmed my family and me’, adding that he had reported the matter ‘appropriately’ given the murders in the last seven years of MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess. He added that something needed to be done ‘to ensure that legitimate debate on matters of such significance to our constituents does not spill over in a manner such that the appalling comments of the likes of Mr Lindsay are increasingly likely’.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said he had discussed security arrangements over the weekend and added: 'People are entitled to make their views known inside and outside this house, but threats to members are very real, and those who comment should consider the potential effects of their words before posting injudiciously, rather than afterwards.'
The LinkedIn post has been removed and Lindsay, a solicitor for 39 years and now a consultant with a York firm, has made no comment on the site since.
On Monday evening, McDonald tweeted to update that he had exchanged correspondence with Lindsay who had ‘recognised the hurt caused to my family and me’. This has since been confirmed to the Gazette by Lindsay.
The MP added: ‘He has unreservedly and unequivocally apologised. In addition, as requested, he has made a donation to the Jo Cox Foundation. That’s much to his credit and I thank him.’
