Columnist Sarah Vine has spoken out against the intense vitriol and hate directed at public figures, particularly in the wake of Ann Widdecombe's death, recounting how her own family was targeted by threats.

Vine drew a distinction between legitimate political criticism and the often hateful and misrepresentative narratives that circulate on social media. She recalled her early encounters with Widdecombe, a formidable politician, describing her as resilient and principled in the face of decades of public scrutiny and mockery. Vine expressed shock and anger at some of the reactions to Widdecombe's death, citing instances of inflammatory posts that she believes marked those who made them as intolerant despite claims of 'tolerance.'

Vine recounted her own experiences with political threats, which intensified after the murder of MP David Amess in 2021. She revealed that Amess's original target had been her ex-husband, Michael Gove. Ali Harbi Ali, the extremist convicted in Amess's murder, had reportedly scouted Vine's family home multiple times and outlined attack plans. Vine shared the chilling detail of an 18th birthday card sent to their daughter, Beatrice, containing a death threat to Gove if he did not comply with unspecified demands.

These incidents, Vine explained, led to anxiety and fear for her family, highlighting how such threats, regardless of security measures like locks or alarms, can instill profound psychological distress. She noted that while Widdecombe's home was equipped with security, most politicians lack constant surveillance or close protection, raising concerns about timely assistance in emergencies.

Vine attributed the current climate of intense animosity and online abuse to social media platforms, whose algorithms, she contends, amplify divisive content for profit, creating a 'rage economy.' This, she argued, spills into the real world, undermining democracy and leading to tragic outcomes, referencing the deaths of Jo Cox and David Amess, and now Widdecombe.

She concluded that the solution lies not in increased security for politicians but in an end to what she described as a 'market in hate.'

Sarah Vine and her then husband Michael Gove in 2016. The pair had just started dating when she first crossed paths with Ann Widdecombe Over the course of the next two decades, as politics came to dominate my life, my respect for Widdecombe and others like her only increased, writes Sarah Vine I never had Widdecombe¿s courage in the face of so much vitriol. She handled it so well. Indeed, in her very last broadcast, she talks about politics as a ¿game of destruction¿, says Vine