Threats made against MPs more than doubled last year and have reached “unprecedented” levels, the head of the Met Police has said.

Speaking to the Joint Committee on Human Rights on Wednesday, Cressida Dick said Brexit had been a “huge driver”. 

The number of threats has risen since Jo Cox was murdered in her Batley and Spen constituency by a right-wing extremist ahead of the EU referendum in 2016.

A number of recent high-profile cases have also highlighted the issue. Ukip leader Gerard Batten recently described a candidate’s rape tweet to MP Jess Phillips as “satire”.

And in March Tory MP Anna Soubry revealed she was unable to go home to her constituency because of the seriousness of the death threats she was facing.

Soubry was called a “Nazi” by protestors chanting near a live BBC News broadcast outside Westminster in January.

The Tory MP was discussing Theresa May’s Brexit plan with presenter Simon McCoy when they had to stop their conversation due to the noise.

Pointing to the protestors, Soubry said: “I do object to being called a Nazi, actually. I think this is astonishing.This is what has happened to our country, this is what’s happened to our country.

“But anyway, let’s try and stay positive about things.”

Announcing a series of events to commemorate the murdered MP, last month the sister of Jo Cox will said we are living through “the most divisive period of our times”.

It is nearly three years since the politician was killed in her Batley and Spen constituency on June 16 2016 by Thomas Mair, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder.