It would be to overlook the tragic murders of outstanding public servants such as Sir David Amess MP and Jo Cox MP, or the stabbing of Stephen Timms MP, to suggest that Britain has been free of political violence in recent years.
Yet it remains the case that our system of government has largely eschewed the assassin’s bullet or knife, in favour of rigorous parliamentary debate. We should stand firm against any change to that cherished status quo.
Mike Freer, MP for Finchley and Golders Green, has announced he is standing down at the next election, citing several serious “threats to my personal safety”. Cynics may suggest Mr Freer was set to lose his seat. No matter. The Conservative justice minister was first targeted in 2011 — a year after Mr Timms was stabbed. Mr Freer and his staff have been forced to don stab vests when attending public events after learning that Ali Harbi Ali had watched his Finchley office before going on to murder Sir David.
An arson attack on his constituency office in December was the final straw. Mr Freer, who represents a constituency with a significant Jewish minority, said “I don’t think we can divorce” antisemitism from the intimidation.
Threats and violence have no place in our politics. We ought to heed Mr Freer’s warnings or we will lose more good people from public life.
Step up for London
We must do more to protect the mental health and boost the life chances of young people in London. That’s the message the Evening Standard today sent to the Government, Labour and council leaders in an open letter containing practical steps forward.
It is part of our Step Up initiative, which seeks to address the yawning chasm that exists between the life chances of people of different backgrounds. The letter proposes that a mental health support system is established in London schools, including access to trained counsellors, in-school resources and staff training. This is one strand in our efforts to support young people in the capital.
This newspaper has already supported hundreds of jobless Londoners to upskill and secure jobs and apprenticeships, thanks to our separate Skill Up Step Up drive. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of young Londoners, while securing a brighter future for our city.
Harrods x Burberry
When two iconic British institutions come together, sparks generally fly. This month, Harrods has been taken over by Burberry to celebrate the department store’s 175th anniversary.
So bid farewell to Harrods green and marvel at the facade daubed in Burberry’s new season check. Worth a visit for the Instagram alone.
