Stella Creasy laments the risk to democracy of MPs being “harassed and intimidated” by protesters (Death and rape threats, bricks through windows: MPs must be able to serve without living in fear, 22 February). She refers to violent threats, bricks through windows and the murders of Jo Cox and David Amess, before arguing that peaceful protests at MPs’ offices and homes – by Gaza ceasefire protesters and Just Stop Oil supporters – are also “crossing a line”. We can all understand the desire to keep our families safe, just as those in Gaza fear the threats from bombs and starvation, and those protesting for government responsibility on the climate crisis fear the risks from floods, food shortages and societal breakdown. But to compare nonviolent protesters outside MPs’ homes to actual and threatened violence is disrespectful to democracy.
As Creasy rightly notes, this government has enacted the most severe repression of protest rights in generations, with little opposition from Labour. Indeed, Keir Starmer has said that he will not support efforts to repeal the most draconian anti-protest laws despite concern from human rights experts. Now, even marching on roads near government buildings can result in potential imprisonment, as most traditional forms of protest have been criminalised. What, then, would Creasy suggest we do to make our voices heard? Climate chaos is advancing and taxpayer money continues to fund fossil fuel expansion at home and military genocide abroad, despite overwhelming opposition by the public. Inaction is not an option.
With trust in politicians at a historic low, Creasy is right that “something has gone very wrong”, but it is not peaceful protesters who pose a threat to democracy. A corrupt government that ignores the electorate’s demands while removing most of our protest rights must expect us to keep finding new ways to hold it to account.
Kate Logan
London
• Stella Creasy is right on every point, but what she fails to consider is that Westminster has invited itself into this deeply damaging spiral. The central offices of the Tory and Labour parties, particularly the former, have done indescribable damage to the respect in which MPs used to be held, by their determination to select “yes people” who will vote as indicated by central office rather than give priority to their constituents’ interests.
If we had MPs of real integrity who acted unfailingly for the collective good, who did not cheat on expenses, who did not resort to grotesque distortions of spin, we would treat them with a great deal more respect. If we had parties whose whips did not operate with bizarre levels of manipulation, we would end up with better legislation. We would also live in a community that had some level of trust in the process.
Nick Goulder
Saffron Walden, Essex
• Threats, abuse and intimidation are never OK, but to equate peaceful demonstrations outside constituency offices or MPs’ homes with intimidation is wrong. MPs have always been subject to such attempts by ordinary people to bring attention to our concerns, but there is a growing disconnect between MPs and the people they represent. The powerful have access via lobbying, while the rest of us have limited options – one of which is to demonstrate peacefully where our representatives can see us.
Chris Hicks
Telford, Shropshire
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