A man has been handed a 14-month community order in relation to a charge of an offensive or menacing telephone call to a sitting MP.
James Phillips, 46, admitted to making the call on January 31st to Mike Freer MP’s constituency office. In the call he said “I’m coming for you”. Mr Freer is Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green and a Minister of Justice.
Phillips appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday. He was also sentenced alongside a charge of assaulting a police officer after he attempted to punch an officer who was trying to bring him out of a cell for an interview.
Mr Freer announced he would step down at the next election partly due to the death threats he has received. His constituency office was the target of a separate arson attack on Christmas Eve in 2023. On Tuesday, Paul Harwood, 42, pleaded guilty to two charges of arson in relation to the incident. Another man charged alongside him denied the charges. Both have been remanded in custody.
These most recent examples follow a series of threats against publicly elected officials, stretching across levels from sitting Members of Parliament to Councils.
‘It will take a lot more to bully me out of public life’
At a meeting of Newham Council at the end of February, a Jewish Councillor was allegedly heckled. In the webcast of the council meeting, Councillor Joshua Garfield began his address to the council by stating “it will take a lot more to bully me out of public life.”
Metropolitan Police were unable to confirm to City News the current nature of any arrests in connection with the incident.
This incident has been condemned by politicians including the Home Secretary.
Joshua stood against me in the General Election. We debated and we disagreed, but always with good grace.
He is right to stand strong against attempts to bully him and others from the public space. I am determined to protect his right to represent and speak for his community. https://t.co/9fivCriEUy
— James Cleverly🇬🇧 (@JamesCleverly) March 1, 2024
Debate Not Hate
Home Office Minister Tom Tugendhat MP addressed this topic in the House of Commons On Thursday February 29th:
He said that “our democracy only works if those who elect us are free to choose the individual they wish – and if that individual…has the freedom to say what they think.
“Instead of debate and accountability, we’ve seen intimidation and threats.
“It is a threat to the very democratic principles and values that define who we are as a country.”
At a local level, the Local Government Association’s campaign called Debate Not Hate aims to encourage healthy debate and improve the responses and support for local politicians facing abuse and intimidation.
The Association provides resources for and advises Councillors on how to engage with people online. They are encouraged not to post information that allows people to identify their location.
JSO
Environmental activism group Just Stop Oil currently campaign by visiting homes of politicians. In their view, “it is important to acknowledge that we all deserve safety in our homes, however, these are people who are making decisions that affect all of us.”
We will continue to visit the homes of MPs…to demand an end to Tory oil.
Just Stop Oil
‘You can’t suppress debate’
As the country starts to prepare for a General Election, expected later this year, politicians prepare for what they believe will be heightened tensions.
Reform UK leader Richard Tice told City News he has “never felt more vulnerable” when asked about the threats public officials and politicians face.
