Lee Pitcher MP cancels meeting over safety fears after FB post from town councillor Mick Glynn
Mick Glynn told followers to wait for the Labour MP outside the town council and “greet” him on his arrival.
A Doncaster MP cancelled a private meeting with a local town council amid safety fears after members of the public were encouraged to “greet” him outside the venue.
Labour Party MP Lee Pitcher’s team cancelled the meeting after a post on Facebook by Hatfield Town Councillor Michael ‘Mick’ Glynn.
The Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme MP said: “As the MP, I meet with local councillors regularly to discuss a range of issues that affect our constituency.
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“Unfortanately, certain councillors could not resist spreading misinformation about the nature of this meeting on social media to cause disruption, and my office took the decision that it may no longer be safe for me or my staff to attend.”
Coun Glynn, who was formerly the Mayor of Hatfield, said he was “absolutely disgusted” that Mr Pitcher had cancelled the meeting and invited him to arrange another in a local school auditorium which local people could attend.
He claimed it was not his intention to make the MP feel unsafe, but said he believed Mr Pitcher had used the social media post as an “excuse” to not attend.
Mr Pitcher was due to meet privately with Hatfield Town Council on July 9, 2026, to discuss homes of multiple occupancy (HMOs) in the area.
The MP’s team refuted claims from Coun Glynn that the meeting was to be held in private at their request.
Mr Pitcher said: “I have public meetings and events every month. I pride myself on being an extremely accessible local MP and constituents have multiple ways to contact or meet with me.
“I accepted this role understanding that there would always be some level of risk. However, I will not put myself or my team at greater risk than is necessary.”
Following the cancellation of the meeting, the Mayor of Hatfield, Coun Isaiah-John Smith-Reasbeck, said in a statement: “In light of the recent murder of Ann Widdecombe and increased hostility towards political figures, the fact that some councillors find it appropriate to attempt to intimidate our local MP is shocking, and I would like to extend my apologies to Lee Pitcher.”
Mr Pitcher said: “I hope local residents will reject this deeply unpleasant brand of politics, whatever party they support.
“We desperately need to turn the temperature down in British politics, and so I am thankful to Hatfield Town Council for coming out so strongly against this behaviour and letting Hatfield residents know the truth.”