Granddaughter of ex-Chesterfield MP Tony Benn makes plea to Jeremy Corbyn after online abuse

The granddaughter of former Chesterfield MP Tony Benn has urged Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to call for an end to personal attacks on her on social media.
The late Tony Benn.The late Tony Benn.
The late Tony Benn.

On Twitter, Emily Benn has been labelled a 'traitor' for speaking out against anti-Semitism in the Labour Party and questioning Mr Corbyn's handling of the crisis.

Several Twitter users told her that her grandfather - who was a passionate voice of the hard-left at Westminster and cited as a key mentor to Mr Corbyn - would be 'turning in his grave'.

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In a tweet to Mr Corbyn, 28-year-old Ms Benn said: "The sheer level of personal abuse I'm now receiving from your supporters (many in your name) is simply unacceptable.

"As leader, I'd appreciate it if you could please make it clear that this abuse of a fellow Labour member is entirely unacceptable and should stop."

Mr Benn's daughter Melissa Benn said: "If he were still alive my father would not have condoned personal attacks by, or on, anyone within the Labour family and certainly not in his name.

"That wasn't his style. He understood: there are always bigger issues and more powerful enemies to fight."

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When one Twitter user accused Ms Benn of 'standing on the shoulders of giants, p***ing on the people that made him great', her uncle Hilary Benn, a Labour MP, hit back.

He said: "What on earth makes you think that it is in any way acceptable to use the death of my father, and Emily's grandfather, to make a political attack?

"I only hope that, on reflection, you are ashamed of yourself."

Tony Benn, who was Chesterfield's MP between 1984 and 2001, died aged 88 in 2014.