Warning Britain dangers changing into ‘thugocracy’ if MPs face worry of violence in key votes | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Senior politicians are adamant that fears of violence should not be allowed to affect how MPs vote. Former Leader of the Commons Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg mentioned it’s “essential that politicians feel able to vote in Parliament in safety” as a result of “otherwise we cease to be a democracy and become a thugocracy”.

Home Secretary James Cleverly additionally declared the one factor politicians ought to ever worry “is the ballot box”.

A report by Lord Walney, the adviser on political violence, is expected to recommend new police powers to set up “exclusion zones” in political hotspots. These would come with key areas such because the precincts of Parliament and outdoors MPs’ houses.

A supply who has seen the report mentioned: “There’s a real vulnerability of MPs and ministers if they choose to walk between their Whitehall office and the Commons and the Lords.”

Concern has heightened following follows protests final week over the battle in Gaza and smaller demos exterior houses and workplaces of MPs.

House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle final week mentioned he didn’t wish to decide up the telephone to “find a friend has been murdered”. The Home Secretary mentioned: “Any changes to the way Parliament works, or the options MPs can vote for, because of the threat or risk of intimidation sends completely the wrong message.”

Mr Cleverly added that he could be “vigilant” so as “that the only thing an MP or councillor should ever fear is the ballot box”.
Former Labour chief Lord Kinnock mentioned the threats to parliamentarians’ security are “real and terrible” however he warned in opposition to rolling again “accessibility” that’s “crucial” to our democracy.

Former Home Secretary Priti Patel mentioned: “All of our freedoms and democracy are at risk when MPs and politicians are intimidated, bullied and threatened… Threats and abuse should be fully investigated with the police using the full range of powers to identify those responsible and bring them to face justice.”