Urgent need for more security after physical attacks and abuse, say MPs’ staff | Politics
Staff employed by MPs are calling for security to be urgently tightened after reports that some were physically attacked and hundreds of people received threatening calls and messages.
A survey of staff of more than 500 MPs found 78% of MPs had received threatening communications and almost a third feared for their own or colleagues’ safety.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham plans to announce a review into the safety of MPs following the murder this month of former Conservative minister and UK Reform spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe. Joshua Kerry, 28, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, has been charged with murder.
In a survey of more than 500 staff working for MPs, 30% said they feared for their own or colleagues’ safety “often, very often or always”; this rate was 18.7% five years ago.
Seventy-three MP staff said they were exposed to racist or prejudiced language from visitors “very often or frequently”, while 188 MPs said they sometimes experienced this situation. One in four people said they felt at least sometimes pressured to comply with requests that could jeopardize their safety.
While many said parliamentary officials listened to their security concerns, others still felt they were treated poorly compared to MPs.
The Westminster-based wellness working group (WWG), which represents MPs’ staff and conducted the survey, said there was an “urgent” need for greater protection for frontline staff, who often act as “MPs’ deputies”.
University of Salford psychologist Dr. Research conducted by Ashley Weinberg found that one in every two parliamentary staffers experience clinical levels of psychological distress; this is the highest level recorded since the survey began in 2021.
Describing the increase as “significant and sudden”, WWG said: “It is clear that the key issues currently troubling us are due to unsustainable workloads, with staff routinely subjected to harassment, racist and sexist language, suicide threats, traumatic remarks and threats of violence.”
While 17 members of staff said none of the security recommendations made to MPs had been implemented, 59 (11% of 530 respondents) said only “some” had been implemented.
They called for Commons officials to be given the power to impose tighter security when MPs or office managers do not comply. Many people felt at risk because security staff often only attended in the MP’s presence, sometimes leaving office staff alone at official events held on behalf of the MP.
WWG said: “Security arrangements should be extended to MPs’ staff as routinely as if the MP were present… The urgent need for this provision is highlighted by the role of staff currently acting as MPs’ deputies.”
One staff member said he had been physically attacked twice in the last year, while another staff member said: “It was made clear that the security guards were only there to protect the MP.”
Another staff member said, “It is very wrong not to be able to provide security unless there is a member of parliament.” “There are personnel who represent MPs in society.
“Most people don’t know what an MP looks like and often think staff are MPs. We should be allowed safety when doing outreach sessions in the community.”
A House of Commons spokesman said it was aware of the concerns raised by staff and was working closely with WWG to strengthen the support available to them.
They added: “The talents of the members [MPs] It is essential for our democracy that staff can carry out their duties safely, both inside and outside the parliament building. “Abuse and intimidation are completely unacceptable.”
