Anna Dixon statement on threats of death and violence

I want local residents to be aware that I have received threats of death and violence directly posted in response to a misleading video recently shared by the MP for Keighley and Ilkley, Robbie Moore.

These have been reported to the police, and an investigation is currently underway.

It is irresponsible behaviour for any MP of any party to put out such blatant misinformation about a colleague. This is particularly true in the current climate, where politicians are under heightened security threats, and in the light of the tragic murders of two colleagues from both sides of the House of Commons in recent years.

Other responses to his post have subjected me to misogynistic abuse and made deeply offensive claims against me – he has chosen to let these remain public in the comments section on his social media.

I hope residents in the Shipley constituency that I represent, and in neighbouring Keighley and Ilkley, will join me in condemning these actions in the strongest possible terms.

I believe those we serve would expect MPs to conduct themselves online as they would in face-to-face encounters - with respect. It is one thing to engage in lively debate on party policies in parliament or on TV, but to launch such a personal attack against a neighbouring MP falls well below the standards expected of parliamentarians, and the Civility Pledge set by the Jo Cox Foundation.

In putting out misleading information online in relationship to my position on child grooming gangs he has personally inflamed hatred against me, and in responding to constituents he has doubled down and repeated the attacks against me.

We must always put victims and survivors first when it comes to tackling the horrific crime of child sexual exploitation - this issue should never be used to make personal attacks based on party politics.

Group-based child sexual exploitation, committed by grooming gangs, is one of the most despicable and damaging crimes imaginable. I fully support all efforts by Government and West Yorkshire Police to bring perpetrators of these crimes to justice and the work of the local council to protect children and provide support for victims and survivors. I have spoken up in Parliament to highlight the work of West Yorkshire Police following a briefing they gave for local MPs. I also met with victims and survivors and local advocacy and support organisations including Bradford Rape Crisis at an event organised by the Mayor Tracy Brabin and Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime Alison Lowe. Robbie Moore chose not to attend either event.

I have always been transparent and direct with constituents about my reasons for voting in favour of the Government's Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill in January 2025, and I am disturbed by Robbie Moore’s seeming willingness to spread misinformation on this scale with his constituents and beyond, particularly when it pertains to such a serious issue.

In January, the Conservative Party put forward a proposal for a national inquiry into grooming gangs by introducing a wrecking amendment to the Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill. If this amendment had passed, it would have effectively killed the Bill, which aimed to enhance safeguards for children. The Conservatives could have proposed the amendment differently, but they chose to proceed in this manner.

I am also shocked by the claim made in the video shared by Robbie Moore that I would oppose a Bradford District focus as part of a national inquiry into grooming gangs. This is extremely concerning when the video in question features extracts from an email I sent to one of my constituents on 6th August, the full text of which includes the statement: “If the national inquiry deems that another local inquiry is needed in Bradford, this is something I and the Local Authority will fully support.” He has chosen to omit this from his video.

My position on these issues were fully explained in a letter to constituents earlier this month, the full text of which can be found below.