RISHI Sunak today slammed the “vitriolic hatred” by Islamic extremists that has driven a veteran Tory minister to quit politics.
A No10 spokesperson called the violent threats made against Mike Freer “an attack on British democracy”.
PAMike Freer will quit politics at the next general election due to serious threats against his safety[/caption]
The MP for Finchley and Golders Green, the largest Jewish constituency in the UK, last night announced he will stand down at the next general election.
The 63-year-old said he feels “lucky to be alive” after a suspected arson attack on his office in December.
He added that “attacks by Muslims Against Crusades… and the recent arson attack have weighed heavy on me and my husband”.
Mr Freer also told TalkTV: “When MPs start fearing for their lives and also the safety of their families and staff – that goes beyond the point that is acceptable.”
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Responding to the Justice Minister standing down, a Downing St spokesperson said: “The Prime Minister is extremely saddened that Minister Freer has faced such vitriolic hatred that he feels he is no longer able to serve his local community.
“The Prime Minister believes that serving and representing your community is a unique privilege and making a difference to people’s lives is the most rewarding job you can do.
“No elected representative deserves to be abused or intimidated and the attacks and abuse that Mike Freer references are clearly deeply distressing. They’re not just an attack on him but an attack on British democracy.”
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt said it is an “absolute tragedy” that MPs are “hounded out of office” because of safety fears.
She said: “We know that what often encourages others is where they feel they are given permission to demonise Members of Parliament, to dehumanise them and quite often that permission to do serious physical harm and the motivation for it often starts on social media.
“Whatever you think of a person’s political persuasions or their views or their voting record, they are here at the service of the people who sent them here and that deserves respect and it deserves our protection too.”
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle vowed to do “whatever I can” to improve MP safety.
He said “we all get death threats”, but acknowledged Mr Freer “really has been targeted”.
Heaping praise on the Justice Minister, the Board of Deputies of British Jews said: “Mike Freer has been one of the Jewish community’s most stalwart supporters in British politics.
“The fact that he has decided not to seek nomination again as an MP due in part to the threats and abuse he has received should be widespread cause for concern.”
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