Yvette Cooper, the Labour MP, said she alerted police after receiving a tweeted death threat against her children and grandchildren.

The former Cabinet minister received the sinister message on Tuesday from an account that accused her of sending pro-EU "propaganda" by email, adding: "Please stop or I will kill your kids and grandkids".

Reposting the threatening tweet to her followers, Ms Cooper commented: "Got this today for speaking out for Remain ... This has to stop".

It is understood the account was removed after the MP for Normanton, Pontefract and Castleford reported the tweet.