Full text of the deputy Labour leader’s words after a man was sentenced for sending a threatening email
I have been off work over the last couple of weeks after losing a
close loved one. Grief is the burden we bear for love and losing
someone close is something that we all experience at some point in our
lives, but that knowledge doesn’t make it any easier when it happens
to you. So I can’t imagine what the family of Sir David Amess are
going through, but I know they will be hurting. I send my heartfelt
condolences to them. Sir David was a fine parliamentarian, a proud
advocate for his constituents and above all such a kind, generous and
warm-hearted man. He will be missed on all sides of the house.
As a society we need to offer better support to people who are going
through bereavement, loss and other traumatic or difficult experiences
in their personal lives. I hope that the fact that I took time to deal
with a bereavement will encourage other people to do the same when
they are going through grief or trauma.
While I have been away from the cut and thrust of parliament I have
reflected on our political debate and the threats and abuse that now
seem to feature all too often.
I have also reflected on what I said at an event at Labour party
conference. I was angry about where our country is headed and policies
that have made life harder for so many people I represent. But I would
like to unreservedly apologise for the language I used, and I would
not use it again.
I will continue to speak my mind, stand up for Labour values and hold
the government to account. But in the future I will be more careful
about how I do that and in the language that I choose.
All of us in positions of leadership have a responsibility for our
language and rhetoric, whether towards political opponents or anyone
else in society, especially those already most vulnerable. As deputy
leader of the Labour party I take this responsibility with the utmost
seriousness and I am sure that politicians from all parties, the media
and others with a prominent role in our public life will also reflect
on this shared responsibility.
I want to address the threats I have received recently. In the past I
have been reluctant to speak out about the abuse that I receive
because I fear that doing so will only make the situation worse.
However, in recent weeks the threats that I have received against my
life and the lives of close family have been so terrifying and
explicit that I could not stay silent and simply continue to take it
as “part of the job”. They have had a devastating impact on me, my
children and others close to me.
It shakes you when you get these threats. You worry about the safety
of your home, your office and everything in your life. And it takes
its toll on the people who work for me too.
My staff come to work and do their jobs with dedication and
professionalism. They bear the brunt of much of this abuse and then
get on with their working day. Dealing with death threats and liaising
with the police about their safety should not be a standard part of
the day-to-day working life of a member of parliament or their staff.
So I want to thank the police officers from Greater Manchester, South
Yorkshire and Cambridgeshire police who have arrested a number of
people in recent days and demonstrated the utmost professionalism,
courtesy and kindness both in carrying out their investigations and in
supporting me, my family and my staff during what has been a very
difficult time. I and my team will continue work with them to ensure
that the perpetrators of these crimes are brought to justice.
After attending a funeral on Monday I will be back to work, rolling my
sleeves up and standing up for my brilliant constituents in
Ashton-under-Lyne, Droylsden and Failsworth – along with everyone who
needs a Labour government.
from World news | The Guardian https://ift.tt/3jNymG9
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