The Government says protesting outside the homes of MPs, peers and councillors ‘crosses a line’, with new restrictions making it punishable with prison terms
Protests outside politicians’ homes are set to be outlawed – with up to six months in prison for anyone convicted.
A new law will see harrassment and intimidation protections for MPs, peers and councillors strengthened. A bleak survey found 96% of MPs had experienced at least one incident which affected their abilility to do their job.
Under the new law it will become a criminal offence to protest outside the home of someone in public office in order to influence them. Security Minister Dan Jarvis said this “crosses a line” – and warned it puts people off standing in elections.
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Mr Jarvis said: “The level of abuse faced by those taking part in British politics is truly shocking – it’s a threat to our democracy. People should be able to participate in our politics without fearing for their own or their family’s safety.
“When good people choose not to put themselves forward, communities lose out and the country is poorer for it.”
Mr Jarvis, who chairs the Defending Democracy Taskforce, added: “This measure is a serious but necessary and proportionate step. Targeting public office holders at their homes crosses a line – it’s intimidation, not protest, and we’re putting a stop to it.”
The new rule will not apply to official residences such as Downing Street and Chequers. The measure is being added to the Crime and Policing Bill in a bid to tackle toxic behaviour in British politics. The Electoral Commission found that over half of candidates in last year’s general election suffered some form of abuse or intimidation.
And a survey by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle found 96% of all MPS had endured at least on incident that had a “corrosive effect on their ability to do their jobs”.
Will Fletcher, interim head of the Jo Cox Foundation – which was set up in memory of the Labour MP murdered in 2016 said: “Protesting outside someone’s home clearly poses serious safety concerns and can cause distress for the individual and their family.
“Protest and robust debate are important to our democracy, and there are many ways that people can make their voices heard without crossing the line into intimidation at someone’s home.”
And Samantha Dixon, Minister for Democracy, said: “Intimidation and abuse of any kind is unacceptable, and I’m determined to protect those in public office so we can encourage more people to get involved in democracy.”
Keir Starmer is among the politicians to have his family home targeted in the past. Last year former Tory MP Tobias Ellwood – who also endured a protest outside his home – told the BBC: “All MPs expect criticism from time to time, it comes with the territory, but the bar of acceptable treatment is falling.
“Advertising the private address, to mobilise an aggressive, intimidating rally at an MP’s residential property, impacting not just on the family but also neighbours as well, for me is a step too far.
“This cannot be normalised in anyway… democracy clearly is not in a good place if this becomes the norm.”