Following a pro-Palestinian protest at the home of a well-known Tory MP, ministers have written to police chiefs urging them to make “robust use” of powers to safeguard politicians.
Security Minister Tom Tugendhat and policing Minister Chris Philp described the protest outside Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood’s house as an instance of “unacceptable” activities that run the risk of having a “chilling effect on democracy” in a letter to chief constables that was seen by News.
Last Monday, some sixty individuals, some of whom were leading chants and waving Palestinian flags, convened at the residence of the MP for Bournemouth East.
“It is unacceptable to intimidate representatives who have been democratically elected,” the two ministers wrote in their letter.
“It’s critical that our elected officials may live in their homes in a fear- and harassment-free environment.
The potential chilling impact that undermining this could have on our political discourse and on potential candidates’ willingness to run for office worries me a lot.
