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Three women in Parliament have been provided with bodyguards and vehicles paid for by taxpayers due to growing worries about the safety of politicians.
Unnamed female individuals, including members of the Conservative and Labour parties, have been given increased security measures amid reports of MPs being terrified of the harassment they are receiving.
Security Minister Tom Tugendhat has been collaborating with the Home Office, police, parliamentary authorities, and the royal and VIP executive committee (Ravec) to revamp safety protocols for MPs. Ravec is a covert group in charge of safeguarding high-ranking politicians and the royal family.
The new process, launched following a referral by police or parliamentary authorities, comes as the threat level faced by British politicians has shot up in recent weeks.
According to a high-ranking security official interviewed by The Sunday Times, numerous Members of Parliament are deeply fearful of the harassment they are experiencing.
The newspaper reports that three female Members of Parliament have been granted security services from private firms, in addition to being provided with chauffeured vehicles. These privileges are typically reserved for high-ranking cabinet members and the leader of the opposing party.
A senior official from Whitehall stated that we have proactively organized actions against individuals or potential suspects who pose the greatest threat to MPs based on intelligence.
The security of other members of Parliament is also being assessed if they are considered to be at risk. Additionally, thousands of security measures have been implemented in London and at hundreds of constituency offices and residences for those who do not require the highest level of protection.
Private security personnel have been employed at numerous gatherings for members and various occasions, in addition to the option of police presence when necessary. Members of Parliament also have the opportunity to receive security guidance from advisors stationed across the United Kingdom.
Ravec’s membership and decision-making process are largely undisclosed, although individuals with inside knowledge have revealed that it operates with a budget of hundreds of millions of pounds.
The Palestinian Solidarity Campaign recently supported the right to lobby Members of Parliament in significant numbers. There have been reports that the group aimed to have such a large number of protesters present that the doors of Parliament would need to be locked.
The committee stated that the safety of MPs is a pressing matter, but it should not be used as an excuse to protect them from being held accountable in a democratic manner.
Ben Jamal, the director of the organization, expressed disappointment as thousands of individuals were not allowed into Parliament on Wednesday. They were trying to persuade MPs to support a ceasefire in Gaza. Jamal described this as one of the biggest physical lobbying efforts in the history of Parliament.
According to The Times, Mr Jamal urged a group of protesters on Wednesday by stating, “We hope for such a large turnout that Parliament’s doors will have to be closed.”
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker who has faced calls to resign after going against convention during the SNP’s Opposition Day debate on a ceasefire, said his motivation for widening Wednesday’s discussion was fuelled by concern about MPs’ security because of intimidation suffered by some parliamentarians.
According to Mr. Jamal, the group does not advocate for demonstrations outside of MPs’ residences and believes that lawmakers should be allowed to have their privacy respected.
The official in charge of handling political violence for the government has stated that law enforcement should be given the authority to scatter demonstrations near Parliament, the offices of Members of Parliament, and council chambers if they are deemed to be potentially dangerous.
On Friday, Baron Walney, the Government’s expert on political violence and disruption, stated that the “forceful intimidation of MPs” by “angry crowds” was being misconstrued as a form of democracy.
The independent member of the House of Lords, who authored a report requested by the government in December on how political organizations can engage in illegal and disruptive behavior that affects individuals, stated on BBC Radio 4’s Today show that he believes police should consistently intervene to prevent protests from occurring outside of politicians’ residences.
Source: independent.co.uk
