Public officials are targeted and representatives are killed. But we will prevent fear from destroying our politics Dan Jarvis
eAnd every day, I hear horrific stories of abuse against people who step up to represent their communities and serve our country. It is shocking to see the level of harassment and intimidation faced by members of our Parliament, our town councils and elsewhere in the public service. Every story I hear increases my resolve to prevent this from happening and keep those who serve me safe.
The horrific murders of my friends Jo Cox and David Ames were not isolated tragedies. They have sent shockwaves through Parliament and our democracy. Their loss has left behind a grief and fear that shapes our politics.
Vigorous political debate remains a vital part of our democracy, and must be protected. However, the increasing abuses faced by public office holders is not the case Part of this speech.
In last year’s general election, more than half of all candidates Received ill-treatment or intimidation. Almost all current Members of Parliament have suffered from it.
Some current representatives have begun to practice self-censorship; Changing the way they go about their daily lives and how they interact with voters, even what they say and perhaps how they vote, out of concern for their safety and the safety of their employees and families.
The diversity of people wanting to stand for election is shrinking. Some parties are already finding it difficult to recruit women. They are carrying Crushing weight From online threats and abuse – and disgustingly, it is often sexualised. At the same time, the abuses faced by public office holders such as mayors, councillors, police crime commissioners – and even candidates for these roles – are far worse today than in the past. We have seen a worrying escalation both online and in person.
Bricks were thrown through the windows while the children were sleeping. Threats sent via mail. Staff faced vile online abuse. Many of them have been subjected to verbal and physical harassment on their local main streets. I speak with those affected, and I know how deep the trauma is for them and their families. If left unchecked, this will have a chilling effect on our democracy, as good people turn away and good people decide not to come forward in the first place.
We face a real danger that fewer voices will contribute to our national debate, and our democracy will become poorer because of it. No one should be deterred from running for public office because they fear for their safety.
Unless we stand together against this, our democracy will be insidiously undermined – by the persistent, deeply destructive erosion of voice. I’m not ready to accept this as some sort of new normal.
As Minister of Security, I am fully committed and determined to ensure the protection of those who participate in our democracy, and to deter and punish those responsible.
That is why we are preparing a new law to restrict protests outside the homes of public office holders.
This powerful measure addresses existing legislation, which does not adequately reflect the impact of protests in the private homes of public office holders, and does not take into account the nature of the demonstrations we have increasingly seen – persistent, targeted and designed to intimidate.
In Britain, we must firmly adhere to the principle that public service should never come at the expense of personal safety. However, in recent years we have seen protests deliberately timed to coincide with children leaving for school, families being separated at home, and elected representatives forced to balance their duties with the well-being of the people closest to them.
After promoting the newsletter
This is not how it should be. We cannot bring political discord to someone’s family doorstep. We must not make children collateral in the campaign. We cannot use intimidation as a tool of persuasion. Respecting each other, our institutions, and the private lives of those we serve is absolutely essential to our democracy.
The right to peaceful protest is not in doubt. It is a cherished freedom, and there are many appropriate places to exercise it – public places and Parliament itself. But the threshold of a private house is not one of them.
This new legislation is a necessary and proportionate step to protect democratic participation and ensure that those who serve in the military can do so without fear for their families. It’s about drawing a line – not against protest, but against intimidation.
It is part of a broader strategy to strengthen democratic protections that this Government is pushing forward, through the Defending Democracy Taskforce, which I chair, and which works closely with the police and Parliament.
I will not stop this work to protect our democratic institutions and processes. Public service should not come with fear for one’s safety. We all have a role to play in defending our democracy against those who seek to undermine it. Intimidation must not be allowed to win.
-
Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to email a response of up to 300 words for consideration for publication in our letters section, please click here.