A man who displayed an abusive message towards Christian MP Rachael Maskell has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
Lee Moran, aged 55 from York, was convicted of a public order offence after hanging a St George’s Cross from the city’s medieval walls with the words: “This one’s for you, Maskill” [sic].
York Magistrates Court heard how Moran called Maskell a “traitor to the English people” for her opposition to the movement encouraging people to attach flags to lampposts, according to BBC News.
The MP, who at the time had lost the Labour whip for her opposition to proposed welfare cuts, said the 2025 incident made her feel “distressed with the threat of being a target in political violence”.
A statement from Maskell read out in court said she feared the flag would “incite a larger group of people”. She also stated her opposition to ‘Operation Raise the Colours’, that the hanging of flags was causing division.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, House of Commons speaker, also made a statement to the court. He said that Moran’s actions made elected officials fearful of their safety and undermined democracy, as per York Press.
In court, Moran admitted to the misspelling of the MP’s name. He denied that it was done to be threatening, believing that “only cynical people” would view it as a death threat.
Moran was also convicted of another public order offence for abusing a woman who accidentally knocked one of his flag poles, and of an offence under the Communications Act for messages sent on Facebook.
Deputy senior district judge Tan Ikram said he would have considered jailing Moran if allowed under the law. He was instead given a 14 week suspended sentence, plus pay a total of £324 in fines and costs.
He attempted to interrupt the judge during sentencing, continuing to deny the offences and vowing to appeal.