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May 2020

Last Updated: 26/05/2020

Death threat to Bishop of Ripon follows Cummings tweet

by Tim Flanagan

| 26 May, 2020

After commenting on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's defence of chief adviser Dominic Cummings' 260-mile journey to Durham, she received a death threat and says it was frightening and made her think about what happened to Batley MP Jo Cox

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Police have been informed after the Bishop of Ripon and at least two other bishops, received death threats because they commented on twitter about Dominic Cummings' 260 mile journey with his wife and son to isolate in County Durham at the height of the coronavirus lockdown.

After tweeting, The Rt, Rev Dr Helen-Ann Hartley, said she had received an email, saying: 'Stay out of politics, or it will be the death of you.'

Dr Hartley told The Stray Ferret:

"I've never received a death threat before and it was frightening. I thought about what happened to Jo Cox, and it has made me extra cautious. At least three bishops received similarly-worded emails and all have been reported to the police by our respective dioceses."

On Sunday, the Prime Minister, said Mr Cummings had acted 'responsibly, legally and with integrity' but his defence of his key adviser attracted strong criticism from a number of Church of England bishops, including Dr Hartley, who wrote on twitter:

"Integrity, trust and leadership were never there; just a misguided ideology of power that has total disregard for the most weak and vulnerable and those who work to protect and care for us with relatively low pay."

Dr Hartley, who became Bishop of Ripon in 2018, pointed out:

"After my initial tweet, I have never known an inbox like it with the hateful things said, but fortunately, the supportive and kind messages I received outnumbered the unpleasant ones. I would just ask the person or persons who made the threats to reflect upon what they have done and consider the impact of their actions."

Like Mr Cummings, the bishop's parents live in Durham, but she has not seen them for ten weeks, because she followed the government's lockdown instructions. In twitter exchanges she said:

"My father finished radiotherapy treatment just before lockdown. I've missed his birthday, Mothering Sunday and countless other catch-ups that would have happened. And that's a fraction of a story compared with others."

Dr Hartley believes that the Church does have a role in commenting on politics and its impact upon society.

Skipton and Ripon MP, Julian Smith, has not as yet stated publicly if he believes that Mr Cummings should resign, be dismissed or stay in post.