Labour MP Jo Stevens' office vandalised by protesters

The Shadow Welsh Secretary called the damage "criminal" and "intimidating".

Jo Stevens, Labour MP for Cardiff Central
Author: Tom PreecePublished 17th Nov 2023

A Welsh MP who abstained on the Gaza ceasefire vote in parliament has had her constituency office vandalised by pro-Palestinian protesters.

Jo Stevens, who's the Shadow Welsh Secretary, called the damage "criminal" and "intimidating".

Protesters sprayed red paint over Stevens' office on Albany Road and left posters accusing the MP of supporting the death of children in Gaza and having "blood on your hands".

It comes after 56 Labour MPs voted with the SNP to support an immediate cessation of violence between Israel and Hamas. Beth Winter was the only Welsh Labour MP who voted with the Scottish nationalists.

The vote has divided Labour, with ten of Stevens' frontbench colleagues resigning so they could support it, eight of those were shadow ministers.

In a statement posted on X, Stevens said: “Unlike those involved in this so called “vigil” I don’t require them to agree with my view on how an urgent cessation of violence in Gaza and Israel can best be practically achieved to immediately alleviate innocent civilian suffering."

"I unequivocally support the right to protest. But this goes way beyond that. This is criminal damage. It is intimidation and incitement. This is a workplace and my staff team and I, as well as my constituents who come to my office everyday for help, should be able to do so without fear and in safety.”

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