In a shocking turn of events, Dr Lisa Cameron, a former Scottish National Party (SNP) member, has received threats following her defection to the Conservative Party. The threats have been so severe that Dr Cameron and her family have been forced into hiding.
Dr Cameron, previously an SNP MP, made the decision to join the Conservatives last week. This move has been met with hostility, including threatening messages such as “I hope you burn” and “I hope someone throws a brick at you in the street.”
The severity of the threats has escalated to the point where one ominous message read: “Think your mental health is bad now — wait til you see what abuse and nastiness yer (sic) going to have to put up with.”
Due to the growing concerns for her family’s safety, Dr Cameron, her husband, and their two daughters have relocated from their home to an undisclosed location in the Scottish countryside.
Speaking to The Times, Dr Cameron explained her decision to relocate, “The kids were getting upset and I didn’t want them to be impacted any more. I thought it was best to get away and try and protect them,” she said. She added, “I am a mum before anything else and that was foremost in my thoughts.”
Dr Cameron’s move to the Conservative Party comes after she resigned from the SNP last Thursday. She cited a “toxic and bullying SNP Westminster group” as her reason for leaving, claiming she did not feel able to continue in such an environment.
The decision to switch parties has sparked controversy. First Minister Humza Yousaf has called for Dr Cameron to resign her seat and instigate a by-election, arguing that her constituents voted for an SNP MP, not a Conservative.
Dr Cameron has publicly criticised the SNP and its leadership for their treatment of her, particularly after she spoke out about her colleague, Patrick Grady.
