Members of Parliament are too scared to walk through central London, says senior Conservative MP Robert Jenrick after a heated debate in the House of Commons.
The former Home Office minister says Islamist extremists are being allowed to intimidate MPs and must be stopped.
This comes in response to a row in the House of Commons on Wednesday evening over Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s handling of an SNP-led Gaza ceasefire debate.
Sir Lindsay said he selected a Labour amendment as he was “very, very concerned about the security” of MPs and wanted all sides to vote.
He apologised for his decision again this morning but defended his stance, saying “I never ever want to go through a situation where I pick up a phone to find a friend, of whatever side, has been murdered by terrorists”.
Mr Jenrick says “we have allowed our streets to be dominated by Islamist extremists, and British Jews and others to be too intimidated to walk through central London week after week, and now we’re allowing Islamist extremists to intimidate British Members of Parliament.
“This is wrong, it has to stop”.
Commons Leader Penny Mourdant says that “that there cannot be any tolerance or quarter given to those individuals that threaten and try and prevent Members of Parliament conducting their business”.
Shadow Commons leader Lucy Powell raised concerns that MPs’ decisions are starting to be influenced by inappropriate pressure being applied from campaigners.
She says “As we debate these important matters, a long shadow is increasingly cast over us. Threats, intimidation and security concerns.
“I know it is of huge concern to Mr Speaker too and something which keeps him awake at night, and is his first priority.
She says “the legitimate lobbying of members is part and parcel of our job and our democracy”, but adds “we are increasingly seeing a line being crossed.
“I know members feel uncomfortable discussing their experiences for fear of attracting more unwanted attention, or because we don’t want to come across as whingeing when we have such privileged positions.”
Earlier this month North London MP Mike Freer announced he will not be running for re-election due to concerns for his safety.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with Conservative MP Mike Freer. CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green experienced multiple death threats, including an arson attack on his constituency office.
The justice minister said that “by the skin of my teeth I avoided being murdered” by Ali Harbi Ali, who went on to kill Southend West MP Sir David Amess.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister has responded that “no elected representative deserves to be abused or intimidated, and the attacks and abuse that Mike Freer references are clearly deeply distressing. They’re not just an attack on him, but an attack on British democracy”.
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HeadlineMPs too scared to walk through Central London, says senior Tory MP
Short HeadlineMPs too scared to walk through London, says Jenrick
StandfirstRobert Jenrick MP responds to row in House of Commons over Speaker's handling of Gaza ceasefire debate.
Members of Parliament are too scared to walk through central London, says senior Conservative MP Robert Jenrick after a heated debate in the House of Commons.
The former Home Office minister says Islamist extremists are being allowed to intimidate MPs and must be stopped.
This comes in response to a row in the House of Commons on Wednesday evening over Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s handling of an SNP-led Gaza ceasefire debate.
Sir Lindsay said he selected a Labour amendment as he was “very, very concerned about the security” of MPs and wanted all sides to vote.
He apologised for his decision again this morning but defended his stance, saying “I never ever want to go through a situation where I pick up a phone to find a friend, of whatever side, has been murdered by terrorists”.
Mr Jenrick says “we have allowed our streets to be dominated by Islamist extremists, and British Jews and others to be too intimidated to walk through central London week after week, and now we’re allowing Islamist extremists to intimidate British Members of Parliament.
“This is wrong, it has to stop”.
Commons Leader Penny Mourdant says that “that there cannot be any tolerance or quarter given to those individuals that threaten and try and prevent Members of Parliament conducting their business”.
Shadow Commons leader Lucy Powell raised concerns that MPs’ decisions are starting to be influenced by inappropriate pressure being applied from campaigners.
She says “As we debate these important matters, a long shadow is increasingly cast over us. Threats, intimidation and security concerns.
“I know it is of huge concern to Mr Speaker too and something which keeps him awake at night, and is his first priority.
She says “the legitimate lobbying of members is part and parcel of our job and our democracy”, but adds “we are increasingly seeing a line being crossed.
“I know members feel uncomfortable discussing their experiences for fear of attracting more unwanted attention, or because we don’t want to come across as whingeing when we have such privileged positions.”
Earlier this month North London MP Mike Freer announced he will not be running for re-election due to concerns for his safety.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with Conservative MP Mike Freer. CREDIT: ASSOCIATED PRESS
The Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green experienced multiple death threats, including an arson attack on his constituency office.
The justice minister said that “by the skin of my teeth I avoided being murdered” by Ali Harbi Ali, who went on to kill Southend West MP Sir David Amess.
A spokesperson for the Prime Minister has responded that “no elected representative deserves to be abused or intimidated, and the attacks and abuse that Mike Freer references are clearly deeply distressing. They’re not just an attack on him, but an attack on British democracy”.
