Labour MP Jess Phillips builds 'panic room' at her constituency office

The MP for Yardley in Birmingham walks around with an alarm system after death of Jo Cox

She has helped launch the ‘Reclaim the Internet campaign’ against misogynist bullying online

Jess Phillips is installing a “panic room” in her constituency office after receiving a number of threats to her personal safety.

The Labour MP for Yardley in Birmingham said she carries an alarm to allow staff to listen in on conversations to check she is not being threatened.

Phillips explained the death of her friend and fellow MP Jo Cox had changed how she led her everyday life. She said her house had been “overhauled” by locksmiths to make her doors and windows more secure.

“There is a panic room being fitted in my office, I now walk around with an alarm system that means people can listen in to the conversations I am having in case I’m put in any danger,” she explained on Radio 4’s World At One.

“There has been a huge change in how cavalier I'm willing to be with my personal safety now”.

Earlier this year Phillips said she had been subject to more than 600 rape threats in one night and received around 5,000 Twitter notifications of people discussing whether or not they would sexually assault her. She has helped launch the ‘Reclaim the Internet campaign’ against misogynist bullying online.

A representative for Phillips did not immediately respond to request for comment.