Labor MP Apsana Begum has taken sick leave over a misogynist abuse campaign

Poplar & Limehouse MP Apsana Begum tweeted tonight that she had to be hospitalized on June 12 and had the work signed off by a GP

A Labor MP has taken sick leave after suffering a campaign of misogynistic abuse.

Apsana Begum, MP for Poplar & Limehouse, tweeted tonight that she had to be hospitalized on June 12 and was discharged by a GP.

She wrote: “During my time in Parliament, as an MP, I have been subjected to an ongoing campaign of misogynist abuse and harassment.

“As a survivor of domestic violence, it was particularly painful and difficult.

“The abusive campaign had a significant impact on my mental and physical health.”

She explained that she was unable to take part in the Labor Party’s internal voting process because she was unable to work.

In this process, local party and affiliates vote on whether to go through the process of selecting their candidate to contest their seat in the next general election.

Ms Begum’s statement continued: “I am very concerned about the general circumstances surrounding the trigger voting process. These included complaints of alleged rule-breaking and alleged misogynist intimidation.

“Unfortunately, the treatment I was subjected to will be all too familiar to women, socialists and members of ethnic minorities.”

She added: “If the Labor Party is to be the party of equality, it must do everything it can to ensure that such behavior is never tolerated.”

Ms Begum did not say when she would return, but added that her staff will continue to support voters.

In July last year, a jury acquitted her of housing fraud.

Ms Begum was on trial at Snaresbrook Crown Court in London for dishonestly failing to disclose information about her application for social housing in three periods between January 2013 and March 2016.

Tower Hamlets Council, which brought the charges, claimed it cost the local authority £63,928 for having to give someone else on the housing list alternative accommodation.

In a statement issued after her acquittal, Ms Begum claimed the case against her was driven by “malicious intent” and caused her “great distress”.

She said: “I would like to sincerely thank my entire legal team and everyone who has shown me solidarity, support and kindness.

“As a domestic violence survivor faced with these annoying allegations, the past 18 months of false allegations, sexist, racist and Islamophobic slurs online and threats to my safety have been extremely difficult.”

She added, “I’ll be consulting and considering how to move forward so that something like this doesn’t happen to anyone again.”