Two charged over offensive messages sent to Angela Rayner

MP for Ashton and Failsworth Angela Rayner

Two men have been charged with sending offensive or menacing messages to Angela Rayner, MP for Failsworth and Ashton, and Labour’s deputy leader.

Stuart Kelly, 53, of East Park Road, Halifax and Michael McGrath, 71, of Silkstone Crescent, Sheffield have both been charged with sending an offensive/indecent/obscene/menacing message.

They have both been bailed ahead of an appearance at Westminster Magistrates Court on 17 March 2022.

Kelly's charge is in connection with telephone calls made to Rayner on 15 October 2021.

McGrath was charged in connection with an email sent to the MP on 16th October 2021.

Last month, police made a fourth arrest in connection with communications sent to the Labour deputy leader.

At the time, a spokesperson for Angela Rayner said: “We are working with the police to ensure that the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice and Angela would like to thank the police for their work during these investigations.

“Abuse and threats of this nature don’t just have an impact on Angela but also on her family, her children and her staff, who are on the receiving end of these communications.”

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