A former MP has revealed she had to Google ‘where to buy a stab vest’ after the Jo Cox murder. The Rt Hon. the Baroness Warsi, 51, was the first female Muslim to attend Cabinet and is currently a member of the House of Lords.
Baroness Warsi shared her story on today's Steph's Packed Lunch, leaving host Denise Van Outen and guests stunned. MPs safety was discussed top of the hour as Channel 4 documentary MPs Under Threat airs this evening.
Speaking about the aftermath of Jo Cox's murder, Baroness Warsi said: “After Jo [Cox] was murdered, we thought changes were going to be brought in. We thought it was a one-off.
Read more: Strictly's Amy Dowden posts picture showing heartbreaking reality of living with health condition
"Then of course we lost David Ames in very very similar circumstances. Members of Parliament and members of the House of Lords have become so used to this sort of abuse, that we almost treat it as part and parcel of our lives.
"We need to stop doing that. I remember at one point when I was on a hit list, a kill list for ISIS.
"I remember Googling ‘stab vests to wear underneath my office suit.’ My husband said, ‘God, at what point does this become so abnormal, that you stop and think, that people don’t just turn up to work wearing a stab vest, when they work in an office?'
“People do raise these issues but they’re not taken seriously. You almost raise them in an apologetic way.
"That needs to stop. Unfortunately, because a lot of politicians aren’t particularly well-liked, you don’t get the level of support from the general public that maybe others in frontline services like doctors or police officers would get.
“We’re not fair game. Especially women, we get terrible abuse.
"You start to rationalise things, but it’s not right. It’s just something you have to put up with.
Channel 4 documentary MPs Under Threat will air at 7.30pm on Monday May 23.
Steph's Packed Lunch airs on weekdays at 12:30pm on Channel 4
