Far-right leader in court accused of machete murder plot against Labour MP

he alleged leader of right-wing terror group National Action has appeared in court accused of giving the green light for the machete murder of Labour MP Rosie Cooper.

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Christopher Lythgoe, 31, is charged with granting a fellow member of the banned group permission to carry out the attack on July 1 this year.

A 22-year-old man from Lancashire, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is charged with intending to commit acts of terrorism contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

The charge states that he bought a “Gladius Machete” for the purpose of murdering West Lancashire MP Ms Cooper between June 5 and July 3 this year.

He is also accused of making threats to kill a female police officer on July 1.

Lythgoe, of Warrington, Cheshire, is charged with encouraging the 22-year-old to commit murder and both men are also charged with being members of National Action.

They appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London on Friday alongside four other alleged members of the banned group.

They are Garron Helm, 24, of Seaforth, Merseyside; Matthew Hankinson, 23, of Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside; Andrew Clarke, 33, of Warrington; and Michael Trubini, 35, also of Warrington.

West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper Credit: Steve Parsons/PA Wire
West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper
Credit: Steve Parsons/PA Wire

The six men are accused of continuing to be members of National Actio