Former Conservative Member of Parliament Jerry Hayes has voiced concerns over the escalating danger faced by elected officials, drawing parallels to the heightened political violence of the Troubles. Hayes, who received protection after his name appeared on an IRA death list in the 1980s, advocates for robust security measures while stressing the importance of avoiding isolation between politicians and the public.
The threat to MPs is not a new phenomenon. Hayes recounts the assassination of Prime Minister Spencer Perceval in 1812, a grim reminder of the risks inherent in public service. He lists the deaths of Airey Neave, Ian Gow, Jo Cox, and Sir David Amess as attacks on democracy itself.
During his time in Parliament in the 1980s and '90s, Hayes experienced firsthand the need for security. After praising the SAS for an operation in Gibraltar, his name was found on an IRA death list. His security was intensified, with armed guards stationed around his home and his car made bomb-proof following the murder of MP Ian Gow, who was killed when his car was bombed.
Hayes also detailed unsettling incidents in his constituency, including a flour bag dropped from a tower block that narrowly missed him and a false alarm involving a car outside his home. He noted receiving a warning from a prisons minister about an inmate who had confessed to wanting to kill him, only to discover the inmate had been released.
He attributes the current rise in threats to a "feral social media-scape" where unfounded rumors can gain traction and institutions are frequently attacked. Hayes pointed to the "disgusting way in which some on the Left celebrated the brutal murder" of Ann Widdecombe as an example of extreme rhetoric.
In the wake of Jo Cox's murder in 2016, Operation Bridger was implemented, providing MPs with access to enhanced security. Following Sir David Amess's death in 2021, Chief Constables were tasked with reviewing local MPs' security arrangements.
Hayes suggests that assaults on MPs should be treated as a graver offense, warranting tougher sentences similar to those for attacking police officers. He also supports calls for greater personal protection for less centrist politicians, citing Reform leader Nigel Farage. However, he maintains that common sense and balance are crucial, emphasizing that the right to express offensive views is fundamental to free speech, for both politicians and the public.
"My only hope is that it can be done without the need for a man with a Beretta to stand outside one’s bedroom door," Hayes concluded, underscoring his desire for security measures that do not alienate elected officials from their constituents.
