Labour MP Rosie Cooper QUITS the Commons after being target of far-Right murder plot that was turned into ITV drama she branded ‘stupid’
- Labour MP for West Lancashire Rosie Cooper has effectively resigned from role
- A by-election will now take place to find her replacement after 17 years in seat
- Ms Cooper was the target of a neo-Nazi murder plot at a meeting in a pub in 2017
- She said the events of recent years had played a roll in her decision to step aside
Labour MP Rosie Cooper, who was the target of a murder plot by a neo-Nazi in 2017, has stood down from her role, sparking an impending by-election.
Her resignation comes two months after she announced she had accepted a role chair of Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust following ‘a considerable period of soul-searching and reflection’.
This appointment meant she was unable to continue with her duties as MP for West Lancashire, she said.
The process of an MP formally resigning is archaic and complex. In order to formally step aside, she was appointed Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern by the Chancellor.
Ms Cooper, who was the target of a murder plot by a neo-Nazi in 2017, said the events she had faced over recent years had ‘taken their toll’.
Last month, Ms Cooper slammed ITV for promoting a drama series about the attempt on her life.
In reference to previous death threats, she asked: ‘How many more will come from this stupid, stupid, stupid series?’
In a statement shared earlier this evening, she said: ‘I leave with a heavy heart, knowing that despite my efforts to distance myself from events in the past, the choice of broadcasters to re-tell this story is out of my control.
Labour MP Rosie Cooper, who was the target of a murder plot by a neo-Nazi in 2017, has stood down from her role, sparking an impending by-election
‘I hope in the future, production companies will be more considerate of the effect that these programmes and the publicity campaign surrounding them, will have on victims of crimes regardless of how public that crime was.
‘I am, however, thrilled to be moving onto a new role within the NHS. Protecting and improving the health service has always been a great passion of mine.’
Ms Cooper acknowledged she’s walking into a role where ‘the challenges facing the NHS have never been more apparent,’ in reference to mounting patient wait times and impending staff strikes.
Inside the tedious resignation process for MPs
Elected MPs are unable to resign and must become disqualified if they wish to leave the Commons before the end of the Parliament.
The Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern is a historical position, which in modern times has been used to facilitate the resignations of MPs.
Holding the position immediately disqualifies a person by law from being an MP and therefore removes them from the House of Commons.
After they’re disqualified as an MP, they’re able to resign from the newly appointed role.
Jack Renshaw, of Skelmersdale, Lancashire, is currently serving a life sentence for planning to kill her.
She has held her seat for 17 years and has a current majority of just over 8,300.
Her resignation will mean a by-election in the constituency, which sits firmly in the ‘Red Wall’.
The by-election for West Lancashire will be triggered by the Labour chief whip issuing a writ for the vacant seat.
The vote has to take place between 21 and 27 working days from this point.
Ms Cooper said in September, when she announced her decision, it had been ‘an incredible honour and privilege to have served the people of West Lancashire for the last 17 years.
‘I have loved every minute, even in the most difficult times. I appreciate this will come as a surprise to many people having recently secured reselection to stand as West Lancashire’s Labour Party Candidate for the next general election. This was prior to the recruitment process for the Mersey Care position.
‘This decision to apply for the role was taken after a considerable period of soul searching and reflection. The events I have faced over the last few years are well documented and undoubtedly have taken their toll.’
She said the NHS is ‘one of her passions’ and felt called to the role. The NHS is facing crises with mounting patient wait times and impending staff strikes.
Jack Renshaw, 23, plotted to carry out the murder of Labour MP Rosie Cooper with a blade
A statement from the Treasury said: ‘The Chancellor of the Exchequer has this day appointed Rosemary Elizabeth Cooper to be Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern.’
The Steward and Bailiff of the Three Hundreds of Chiltern is a historical position, which in modern times has been used to facilitate the resignations of MPs.
Elected MPs are unable to resign and must become disqualified if they wish to leave the Commons before the end of the Parliament.
Holding the position immediately disqualifies a person by law from being an MP and therefore removes them from the House of Commons.
Renshaw bought a 19in replica Roman sword and announced plans to kill Ms Cooper as part of a ‘white jihad’ at a meeting in a Warrington pub in July 2017.
The extraordinary story has been told in ITV’s The Walk-in, starring Stephen Graham.
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