Do MPs need more protection?

[OneMerryRedSnail]

If so what needs to be done?

Or do they take on the job knowing the risks?

https://news.sky.com/story/left-wing-anarchist-guilty-of-terror-offences-after-declaring-he-wanted-to-kill-mps-13072775

@marmaladeandpeanutbutter Doe this person fit your description?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/02/23/just-stop-oil-sarah-lunnon-protest-outside-home-cleverly/

This has happened before now....https://news.sky.com/story/jess-phillips-mp-warned-to-be-afraid-be-very-afraid-in-death-threats-after-office-attacked-11820767

Would this be a ''reform type male' I wonder...

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/jess-phillips-told-family-what-25397194

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make, @OneMerryRedSnail.

Obviously, the people who are threatening the safety and security of our MPs come in all different flavours. Some are men, some are women. Some are Islamists. Some are far right Reform types. Some will have another agenda.

As far as I'm concerned, as soon as they start to threaten and intimidate our elected representatives and/or their family/friends, they are all the same. They crease to become "protesters" at that point, they are just this thugs.

Such threats at any time are acceptable. Women have been receiving abuse for years with no action. Doesn’t make it acceptable now just because it’s the latest abuse fest! It is getting worse.

Obviously it isn't always white men and angry Brexit reform types but plenty of them are. I'm sure you do know the type. If MPs want to try and paint a picture that it's people who go on marches generally, they are being manipulative for their own reasons, because the vast, vast majority of the marches are peaceful. Peaceful people who object to violence, currently in Gaza, rather than creators of it. But then, we know that the government doesn't like any protest, so I don't trust their motives. I did say yesterday that I don't support protesting outside MPs houses, and most decent people wouldn't support any kind of threats or aggression anywhere, including online. I certainly don't.

I haven't personally been on a march or protest for at least 30 years, since I was a student, but when I did the aggressors were very often the police.

Not one person should be allowed to feel threatened outside their own home, not one person should be allowed to be threatened and attacked on line for any reason.
Sadly, the more people make excuses for the government in charge, keep trying to use distraction tactics to make people look the other way at other parties, this will continue.
Also due to the current state of our police services, again sadly, im not sure peoples security should be trumped due to their job role. The police service should be fit for purpose for all.

Not that many other jobs receive the abuse and death threats MPs do. Apart from footballers. MPs are elected to do a job. I don’t care what party they are but intimidation in the street, at their homes and anywhere else isn’t acceptable. We must expect the police to deal with this. Plus marches are no longer benign students. The fringe of them are now intimidating and go too far.

Not that many other jobs receive the abuse and death threats MPs do. Apart from footballers. MPs are elected to do a job. I don’t care what party they are but intimidation in the street, at their homes and anywhere else isn’t acceptable. We must expect the police to deal with this. Plus marches are no longer benign students. The fringe of them are now intimidating and go too far

Sadly, we are in a society where people do send threats to all manner of people, my friend is a social worker and has had real threats made to her, and she is actually doing something to help society, its vile. A MP does not need help and protection more than she does.

Celebrities get death threats often, MPs are not above them.

MPs do not deserve protection more than anyone else. Joe public are having thier homes broken into, no police available to help
Joe public are getting assaulted in their own homes there are no police are available to help, MPs do not deserve more protection than them.

We need to fight for the government to get a police service that is fit for purpose for all, not just a selected few.

@marmaladeandpeanutbutter "Obviously it isn't always white men and angry Brexit reform types but plenty of them are. I'm sure you do know the type"

No, we don't.
That is just a stupid ill-informed generalisation.

Unless of course you know how they all voted ?? 😄

Ah well.

Many others do.

"Many others do."

Know how they voted?
Wow !
People have time to canvass protestors?
Really?

Some people seem to have too much time on their hands 🙄

You certainly do, given you've spent the morning winding up supporters on Gaza on a different thread.

I won't be responding to any more of your posts.

Social workers are not followed in the street or have demonstrators outside their homes. Thats intimidation at a different level. MPs are widely known. Social workers are not. They aren’t going to agree to protect social workers but have agreed to protect some MPs. Also MPs with a high profile are more likely to be the subject of a terror attack than a social worker or be killed. Some might not want protection but for those who are concerned, it should be considered.

Social workers are not followed in the street or have demonstrators outside their homes. Thats intimidation at a different level. MPs are widely known. Social workers are not. They aren’t going to agree to protect social workers but have agreed to protect some MPs. Also MPs with a high profile are more likely to be the subject of a terror attack than a social worker or be killed. Some might not want protection but for those who are concerned, it should be considered

This is crazy especially they arent going to agree to protect social workers why the hell not. !!!
Everyone should expect to be kept safe in this country. Not just flipping MPs.

So you agree then to celebrities getting protection. They are high profile, they are chased down the street, they have their houses staked out.

Do we give anyone protection who fits your categories?

Or should we just push and fight to expect better protection for all from our (understaffed) police and better deterants and punishments for those who break the law.

Yep. Most of us do know the type.

Given that the OP seems to be a Lee Anderson fan, she perhaps struggle to recognise the type...too close to home?

@MrsBennetsPoorNerves . Yep.

@tiggergoesbounce Because no one will pay for it! Elected reps are different and high profile people are different. Lots of people have risky jobs - a judge was attacked recently. In court! it’s impossible to protect everyone.

I do think there are a few politicians from whom we should be protected! 😄

@marmaladeandpeanutbutter Ha. Yes. However some numpties have chosen them from a shortlist and many more have voted for them. GG winning is a prime example of the issues we face!

Yes they need protection. I don't believe one single MP went into the job expecting to receive serious threats of physical abuse, abuse towards their family or indeed to be injured or killed whilst at work. That's a ridiculous thing to say. And even if that were true, does knowing they might be at risk of harm mean they don't deserve protection?

@MumMumMumMumMumMumMum It’s putting off many from doing the job. Plus the pay of course. It’s not worth it.

You're right. I think people think MPs earn a fortune but they really don't. Plus of course the narrative that every MP is corrupt, taking back handers etc. Those same people making such accusations don't seem to want to put themselves out there in the running though.

The pay’s fine when you take into account all the subsidies and the fact that they can claim all sorts on expenses. I want more ordinary people in parliament, the sort who recognise that £85k is a very decent salary. As a woman safety would be a major concern, it must be horrific having to have a panic room in your house.