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The organisers of a Liverpool conference dedicated to Margaret Thatcher say they have received “threats to put delegates in hospital”.

The Thatcher Network, which promotes historical research into Mrs Thatcher and her policies, is bringing its Thatcherism Now conference to the University of Liverpool in April.

Speakers will include former “minister for Merseyside” Michael Heseltine.

Event organisers say they received angry tweets from “self-identified Militant and Momentum supporters”, though say the threatening tweets have since been deleted. Sources close to Momentum said many people label themselves as “Momentum” without being members, while the group said it would investigate any complaints about members.

Last night the network tweeted: “For clarity: Our conference is a non-partisan, academic event.

“The threats we have received from the hard left to throw eggs and put delegates in hospital are disgusting.”

The line-up for the conference, the second to be organised by the Network, was confirmed earlier this month. Panels include a debate on “women in Conservative studies” and a study of Margaret Thatcher and Theresa May.

Antony Mullen, convenor of the Thatcher Network, and co-organiser of the Liverpool event, told the ECHO: “There has been a significant amount of confusion regarding the nature of the Thatcher Network.

“It was clear that a large group of around 30-40 Twitter users - some of whom were self-identified Militant and Momentum supporters – believed the network was linked to the Conservative Party.

“In reality, the Thatcher Network is politically neutral and funded by a politically-neutral charity. Most of its members are left-wing academics – and we welcome all political views.

“The threats made – which included being egged, having people hospitalised and demonstrating to stop the Conference taking place – were concerning. However, we are clear that academic freedom must be defended.

“The conference will go ahead, albeit with an enhanced security presence. I am pleased that some of the more violent tweets were deleted after we made it clear that this is an academic event, not a political one. I hope that we can proceed without further threats.”

A University of Liverpool spokesperson said: “This is a non-partisan academic event. The University firmly believes in the importance of protecting and promoting free speech and has a legal duty to do so.”

A Momentum spokesperson said: “All Momentum members sign up to our Code of Ethics, which includes a commitment to fair, honest debate focused on policies, not personal attacks or harassment.

“If any complaint is made about a member it will be investigated accordingly.”

Meanwhile a source close to Momentum said: “It is unfortunately the case that trolls on Twitter label themselves as Momentum despite not being members or being active in the movement.”

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

Mr Mullen said the network had 100 members from around the country. He said many of them were “left-wing academics” but that members represented all political views and included journalists and think tank researchers.

He said the conference is to be held at a different venue every year– and that Liverpool was chosen because one of the organisers was connected to the university.

* Liverpool ‘is a suitable location’

A spokesman for the Political Studies Association, which is helping to organise the event, said: “The legacy of Margaret Thatcher is understandably a sensitive issue in the city of Liverpool.

“Free speech and open discussion are the best routes towards a better understanding of a period of profound change and upheaval in our country’s recent political past.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

“That is why the Political Studies Association thinks it is important to organise academic events focused on the study of Thatcherism and why we believe that Liverpool, as a vibrant city with a world class university, is a suitable location for such an event.”

* ‘Threats’ are worrying, academics say

Many other academics shared the network’s tweet in support.

Andrew Scott Crines, director of studies at the University of Liverpool’s politics department, said: “It is very worrying when an academic event receives threats of violence. This event has attracted a v impressive line up of contributors. Needless to say the conference will be a success.”

A PhD student with the user name @cathode_blue wrote: “Hideous, worrying reaction to this conference. I research Thatcherism- I’m left bloody wing.”

And Fiona Diane wrote that this was a “Problem I have faced whilst studying MT and Ireland for 4 years.”

She added: “There’s a clear distinction between researching and supporting Thatcher.”