Corbyn ally complains Left is being 'demonised' over vile trolling that forced BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg to get BODYGUARD for Labour conference in Brighton
- BBC political editor given protection after wave of abuse from Corbynistas
- Bodyguard thought to be tracking Kuenssberg at Labour conference in Brighton
- Shadow chancellor John McDonnell vows to 'sort' those hassling the journalist
A close ally of Jeremy Corbyn today complained that the Left is being 'demonised' over vile trolling of BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg.
Chris Williamson denied that Labour activists were responsible for abuse that has forced the journalist to get a bodyguard for the party's conference in Brighton this week.
The bodyguard deployed by the BBC, thought to be an ex-soldier, has been photographed with Ms Kuenssberg over the past two days.
As Labour faced pressure to act to curb the vitriol today, shadow chancellor John McDonnell vowed to step in.
Asked about the situation on LBC radio this morning, Mr McDonnell said the abuse was 'unacceptable' and any activists found to be dishing it out would be disciplined.
BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg, pictured at Labour conference in Brighton today, has been pictured with a man thought to be her bodyguard (left)
He said the journalist should tell anyone who hassled her that 'John McDonnell will sort them'.
But Derby North MP Mr Williamson rejected the idea that any Labour supporters were to blame.
He told TalkRadio it was 'appalling' that Ms Kuenssberg felt she needed protection.
But he took issue with presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer saying the Left were behind the abuse.
'It is a convenient thing to say, to try to demonise people on the Left,' Mr Williamson said.
Mr Williamson said it 'certainly' was not Labour members responsible because they were 'caring' people and would not 'indulge' in threats of violence.
Ms Kuenssberg, pictured at Labour conference in Brighton today, has suffered a wave of abuse from Corbynista trolls. Her bodyguard is thought to be a former soldier who works for a security firm used by the BBC
Ms Kuenssberg was with Mr McDonnell this morning as he was interviewed by the BBC during his broadcast round
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell, pictured during a round of broadcast interviews today, has vowed to 'sort' the activists abusing Ms Kuenssberg
Challenged by the presenter to explain why Ms Kuenssberg only required a bodyguard at Labour conference, Mr Williamson said she was 'implying that reasonable criticism is the same as threat of violence'.
It is at least the second time in the space of a year Ms Kuenssberg has had extra security measures placed upon her, as she was reportedly given more bodyguards during this years general election.
Derby North MP Chris Williamson denied that Labour activists were responsible for abuse that has forced Ms Kuenssberg to get a bodyguard for Labour conference
She has received a barrage of abuse for her coverage of Mr Corbyn, dating back to his dismal cabinet reshuffle at the start of 2016, which was later criticised for her coverage of Labour's performance shocking performance at the local elections later that year.
And in the lead-up to the EU referendum last year, Labour supporters hissed at the BBC political editor when she asked Mr Corbyn a question about the workers rights.
Deputy leader Tom Watson, who hard-left supporters have reportedly targetted for his alleged disloyalty to the party leader, said he was 'embarrassed' by the hissing.
In a tweet last year, Mr Watson wrote: 'I feel embarrassed that @bbclaurak was hissed in the course of doing her job today. It was rude and inappropriate.'
Mr Corbyn himself has previously claimed the BBC were 'obsessed with trying to discredit him' during a Vice News documentary.
He said: 'There is not one story on any election anywhere in the UK that the BBC will not spin into a problem for me. It is obsessive beyond belief. They are obsessed with trying to damage the leadership of the Labour party.'
More than 35,000 people signed a petition calling for Ms Kuenssberg to be sacked by the BBC before it was taken down by campaign group 38 Degrees.
The group said: 'That is totally unacceptable and, with the agreement of the petition starter, we've taken the petition down to prevent it being used in this way.
'There is no place in the 38 Degrees family for sexism or any form of discrimination or hate speech.'
Ms Kuenssberg was hissed by Labour supporters when she asked the Mr Corbyn a question during the EU referendum campaign
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