MPs and parliamentary staff voice concern over rise in threats and abuse

MPs spoke yesterday about the lengths they are taking to keep safe amid heightened tensions over the Israel-Gaza war, with some Labour members who have been vocal on Israel and Palestine saying they feared the possibility of an attack.

- Eleni Courea & Josh Halliday

While the vast majority of people make their views on the conflict known peacefully, MPs and staff said the politically charged atmosphere had brought a surge in abuse and threats.

Tan Dhesi, the Labour MP for Slough, said he felt his life was at risk. He said he had been subjected to death threats and faced protests at his office and constituency surgeries since the latest conflict started October. He said Thames Valley police had located an individual behind one death threat and charged them.

"Everyone has a legitimate right to protest, but it's the vitriol and the abuse and death threats which are completely unacceptable," Dhesi said. "Some people are looking to blame somebody - their MP, councillor, anyone." As have other MPs, Dhesi has had to take extra security measures and has a police presence at his surgeries.

"This will deter a lot of good people from entering politics simply because they know they have to basically get accustomed to a lot of abuse," he said.

He added that disinformation was making the problem worse. "I fear that someone sooner or later will be very seriously injured, if not killed, based on what people are perceiving to be the truth," he said.