Call to support women MPs in face of abuse and death threats to family

[DarkAtEndOfUk]

Could I ask people on this board tonight to look in at the Westministenders threads on the Brexit boards, regarding the death threats as the op states. Jo Swinson's child has been threatened, Anna Soubry's mother has been threatened. We have a Prime minister who is using inflammatory language appearing to support and enable such threats. Women need to stand together against this upsurge of threats against our representatives.

I don't often start threads on Mumsnet and I don't think I'll be able to keep a close eye on this one, but the current events in Parliament are truly shocking me. The Prime Minister today, after that use of language, openly stated that he would not abide by legislation passed by the House of Commons.
Current Westministenders thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/eu_referendum_2016_/3700707-Westministenders-The-Non-Re-Opening-Of-Parliament?watched=1&msgid=90352104#90352104

Women MPs, especially those who are most vocal against Brexit, have been receiving horrific threats of violence from the right

Ann Soubry saying her mum - who must be in her 80s or 90s - has been threatened

Jo Swinson's child has been threatened

Dianne Abbott has long received abuse, threats and insults

Boris Johnson, our PM, kept saying in the House of Commons last night that the only way to stop these threats and this atmosphere of violence was for Brexit to happen

He said that was the way to honour the memory of Jo Cox...
Jo Cox who was murdered by a far right terrorist, angered by her campaigning against Brexit

So PM Johnson condoning and using these threats against women, saying its their own fault for not doing what he wants

We have a sociopath as PM, who condones and mocks threats & violence against women
Who gaslights, who tries to use these theats to get his own way

Many of his MPs support his behaviour and join in.

Very dangerous times for women who dare to become MPs and say things that the ruling hard right government want squashed

Corbyn's policies are actually very popular with most people, that's why labour did far better in the previous election when we got to the point where the news was forced to report their actual policies.

climate change is the no 1 concern in the country now according to polling (for whatever polling's worth) and labours new policies are streets ahead on that

He is also a calm character who has never resorted to personal insults. we need more of this right now whatever your politics.

Agree on all the rest of your post though! How Johnson can claim to be "for the people" when he's unelected and "anti establishment" when he IS the establishment is just horrifying. the doublethink.

"I have to say, Mr Speaker, I've never heard such humbug in all my life."

AKA 'Well it hasn't happened to me so it can't be true"

It’s the old trick of dismissing complaints because “she’s an hysterical woman”

(They don’t really need to say it loud, they do a particular wink wink to fellow mysoginist and they pass the message across)

Boris has always been a philandering, chauvinistic Billy Bunter type character.

Why are we all getting dragged down this side path of faux shock that Boris is Borising as per normal?

Actually, not as normal. Remember his remarks about pn*s? Or the debacle where he likened hijabis to letter boxes? “Surrender bill” is very mild for him.

I can’t see how any faction can possibly think the word “surrender” is particularly comment-worthy, let alone the overriding issue du jour.

Bearing in mind that this isn’t the nadir. This whole Brexit dispute could conceivably end in civil unrest. Also bearing in mind he could prorogue parliament again so time is precious.

Maybe I’m numb to it or maybe I’m missing something but I’m astounded.

“He is also a calm character who has never resorted to personal insults. we need more of this right now whatever your politics.”

Are we forgetting “Stupid Woman” by JC himself then?

Tottie The full parliamentary debate is streamed live on parliamentlive.tv, there's a recording of yesterday's available at parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/a1b65e77-a0e6-4b89-ac09-99d7c5383f45 . Jo Swinson's point of order at 21.53.11 is a good one to catch. I picked the whole debate up about 21.00.

This wasn't a Billy Bunter performance.

I'm not surprised that Johnson has it in him to behave like this.

I'm horrified that he – that any Prime Minister – actually has behaved like this. It wasn't an isolated phrase. He spent, as PP said, hours using incendiary language and framing the current situation as the people against Parliament.

You're quite right, Tottie, that one possible consequence is civil unrest. And Johnson last night was carefully feeding those flames.

Another possible consequence is another murderous assault on an MP or their family: as stated above, several have had serious threats from people using the same language Johnson was employing.

It's only a few months since a far-right extremist was jailed for a plot to murder Rosie Cooper MP.
Jack Renshaw: MP death plot neo-Nazi jailed for life
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-48306380

A judge at the Old Bailey said Renshaw, who earlier admitted preparing an act of terrorism, wanted to "replicate" the murder of Jo Cox.
Renshaw made a Nazi salute towards supporters as he was led to the cells from the dock.

The people vs parliament has to be the stupidist rhetoric ever.

Just imagine if it came to pass.

Tottie The full parliamentary debate is streamed live on parliamentlive.tv

Thanks yes it was on in the background while I was cooking so I caught bits and I did record it. I’ll watch it later.

Maybe I’d have been more shocked if I saw it before I read the reaction.

ChickenNugget has put their finger on it there: "I think the People Vs Parliament campaign by Boris is dangerous."

This has been coming for a long time, the complaints today have come out of a context. There are faults on both sides re language, but overwhelmingly this "People v Parliament" narrative has come from the far right. It was Johnson who gave the Leave campaign its real teeth, and its real lies, fighting a campaign that by many accounts he never believed in himself - it's difficult to tell when he chops and changes so much. Last night he sounded exactly like Charles I telling Parliament that he did not accept Parliament's right to rule against him.

It is dangerous, because it leads in only one direction: civil war. God knows Parliament isn't perfect, we all know that law isn't perfect, but they and the negotiation - parleying - there is the only thing that stops us from being a bunch of individuals constantly at each others' throats when anything happens we don't like.

These same men who appear to actually want the fight, the ones who make the threats, are exactly the same men who also want women to get out of the way, except when they want their victory fucks.

I hope @thecatfromjapan doesn't mind me quoting this from the Brexit threads:

If you have a Conservative MP, write to them. Call out the part of them that recognises the threat Johndon represents. Call on their humanity and morality. Tell them you see it, tell them you see the distance between them and Johnson, tell them they have support. Give them the strength and the reason to resist.
There's a wonderful example letter from @wheresmymojo on there too.

It would be a good idea to email women MPs of any party with supportive emails too.

I saw it last night and I was surprised that he dismissed the points about threats to his colleagues as 'humbug'.

I can’t see how any faction can possibly think the word “surrender” is particularly comment-worthy, let alone the overriding issue du jour.

I hear the word 'surrender' in such a politicised context and immediately think of terrorist organisations and political violence. 'No surrender' is very much a thing amongst the loyalist/protestant side of the sectarian divide.

I guess those who don't live with the consequences of sectarian division are probably less sensitive to what is, to me, an obvious dog whistle.

Is "But Corbyn though" the new NAMALT?

No, the word 'surrender' immediately makes me think of war. To my way of thinking this country has almost been in a state of 'cold war' against its own citizens, the poorer and disadvantaged groups - whoever they are, there are lots of ways of being poorer or disadvantaged just as much as of being rich or advantaged, the EU can be called disadvantaged in the British press - for many years. This kind of language from the top leads me to believe that they really do want an open war.

I assume you’re also active in support of Luciana Berger and Laura Kuensberg, Louise ellman and others in the face of threats from labour fanatics OP?
What with you being so supportive of women and all

"Look over there! Squirrels!"

No, you’re quite right, using the word surrender absolutely is equivalent to failing to do anything to protect your own MPs for years.
You people don’t need my help to make yourselves look ridiculous.
Carry on. It amuses me.