Corbyn issues plea for calm after yobs hurl brick through Angela Eagle’s office window

Vandals attacked Angela Eagle’s constituency office in Merseyside just hours after she launched a tilt at the Labour leadership.

Police were called to the Wallasey office this morning following the attack, which is believed to have occurred between 5pm yesterday and 9am today.

Jeremy Corbyn today condemned the violence and called for Labour members and supporters to treat each other with “respect and dignity”. It is not yet known who carried out the attack or whether it had a political motivation.

In a separate development Eagle’s team was forced to move the location of a planned campaign event in Luton but the former shadow Cabinet minister vowed to continue with the visit.

Today photographs of Eagle’s office in Manor Road, Wallasey, which were posted on social media by a Liverpool Echo reporter, showed a smashed window which has been temporarily covered by a “Remain” placard from the EU referendum campaign.

Corbyn today issued a plea for calm and admitted he had also been targeted with physical threats.

“It is extremely concerning that Angela Eagle has been the victim of a threatening act and that other MPs are receiving abuse and threats,” the Labour leader said.

“As someone who has also received death threats this week and previously, I am calling on all Labour Party members and supporters to act with calm and treat each other with respect and dignity, even where there is disagreement. I utterly condemn any violence or threats, which undermine the democracy within our party and have no place in our politics.”

Jane Kennedy, Labour police and crime commissioner for Merseyside, said: “All of us as a society must say ‘no’. This is not acceptable.”

In a statement the police force said: “Merseyside Police can confirm they were called to premises in Manor Road, Wallasey, today, Tuesday 12 July, following reports of criminal damage.

“It is believed that between 5pm last night (Monday) and 9am today, damage was caused to the front ground floor window of an office. The incident was reported to Merseyside Police at 9.55am today.”

The Eagle campaign confirmed the attack in Liverpool and said they would continue with their work in Luton.

“A members meet and greet and Q&A in Luton today with local MP Gavin Shuker had to be relocated after the venue, a hotel, apparently received threats,” a spokesman said.

“Police were informed and have offered protection for the event. Angela is continuing with the visit as planned.”