Man admits sending death threat to ex-Rochdale MP Simon Danczuk

A man has pleaded guilty to sending death threats to former MP Simon Danczuk.

The former Labour politician was standing as Reform UK’s candidate in the Rochdale by-election in February 2024 following the death of Labour veteran Tony Lloyd.

At Wigan and Leigh Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, Zaffar Hussain admitted one count of “sending by electronic communication on a network grossly offensive or indecent or obscene or menacing messages”.

The 25-year-old, of Kellett Street, Rochdale, will be sentenced in February.

Mr Danczuk received the message two weeks before polling day.

The by-election was won by Workers Party leader George Galloway.

Labour regained the House of Commons seat at the July 2024 general election.

The death threat resulted in Mr Danczuk temporarily moving his family and employing security protection for rest of the campaign.

Mr Danczuk said he was “surprised and dismayed” to receive the “private messages via Facebook” and “immediately reported it both to the police and to the Reform UK head office”.

He said: “You can’t underestimate the impact it has.

“You’re in the thick of an election campaign and then this comes out of the blue.

“It did shake us up as a family as well.”