British lawmakers fear for their safety as Brexit tensions mount
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As British lawmakers prepare for a week in which they could seize control of the Brexit process, many MPs have warned that they fear for their safety amid an increasingly bitter and divisive mood in the country.
After Prime Minister Theresa May blamed Parliament for the chaos in a televised address to the public on Thursday, accusing lawmakers of doing everything possible to avoid making a choice on Brexit, adding that people were tired of infighting, political games and arcane procedural rows resulting in various lawmakers expressing their fear of ending up targeted by frustrated members of the public.
A poll released by British broadcaster Sky News earlier this week found that a whopping 90 per cent think the handling of the country’s exit from Europe is a ‘national humiliation.’ Thirty-four per cent of respondents said they think May’s government is most to blame, while 26 per cent primarily blame Parliament.
Now, lawmakers from across the political spectrum, including May’s own colleagues, said they felt her speech made matters worse. Something the British Government rejected.
Deputy House Speaker Lindsay Hoyle wrote to MPs earlier this week advising them to take steps to ensure their safety, such as travelling home by taxi or with colleagues.
Former attorney general Dominic Grieve said May’s “attack on the integrity of MPs is very unfortunate” while opposition Labour MP Wes Streeting tweeted that May’s speech was “incendiary,” adding that “if any harm comes to any of us, she will have to accept her share of responsibility.”
Pete Wishart, an MP from the Scottish National Party, said the prime minister’s speech left a few of his colleagues “feeling just a little bit more insecure” and called for an emergency debate on the security of lawmakers.
