THE academic who said Liverpool has lost its raison d’etre won’t come to Merseyside because he fears for his safety.
City leaders and academics had invited Dr Tim Leunig, one of the co-authors of a critical think tank report, for a tour and public debate.
But. after a barrage of threatening and insulting e-mails, Dr Leunig said he felt unable to come. A Liverpool newspaper printed his e-mail address on Tuesday.
Dr Leunig said: “I’ve had threats of physical violence on e-mails – they’re quite aggressive, to be honest. One has accused me of being a paedophile. Another has said I’m lower than vermin, quoting (Nye) Bevan.”
He said he had also received some constructive emails. Of around 100 messages, a third were abusive.
Tory leader David Cam- eron, who has been emb- arrassed by the report, moved to distance him- self further yesterday by revealing he is a Lib-Cem.
LETTERS: PAGE 8;
ACTRESS BACKS CITY: PAGE 12
