A Labour MP’s office has been vandalised for the second time in a week, with homophobic graffiti spray-painted on the windows and walls.
The graffiti accused Luke Pollard, the MP for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport, of being a “pedo”.
Pollard, who is gay, said the word was a “common slur against gay people” and asked the culprit to “sit down and talk” to him in a video posted on Twitter.
Police are investigating criminal damage, the BBC reported. The writing has been cleaned off by council workers.
The attack comes after the words “Die Blair” were painted on the MP’s office on 20 October.
There is no place for hate and abuse in our city, our politics or our country. That means we must all do our part to call it out but we must also seek to build bridges and not walls. That’s why I want to sit down with the person who vandalised my office to talk. #plymouth pic.twitter.com/gHCAVXHPYj
— Luke Pollard MP (@LukePollard) October 27, 2019
In a statement to PA Media, Pollard said: “There is no place for hate and abuse in Plymouth. When my office was vandalised last week we saw the most incredible and positive reaction from people in Plymouth.
“Lots of people dropped into the office and asked about me and my team’s safety and welfare. This latest attack and the common slur against gay people it includes does not speak for the people of Plymouth.
“My offer to sit down and talk with the individuals who vandalised my office still stands, but they need to be aware that hate and abuse will not silence me in standing up for our city and its people.
“The persons who did this are clearly very angry about something. The brave thing to do now is have that conversation with me.”
MP Dawn Butler, the shadow equalities minister, tweeted her support, saying: “In solidarity Luke”.
Pollard thanked the police, the city council and his staff for their “fast response”.
