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Ynys Mon MP admits she wears a stab jacket to meet constituents

03 Jan 2023 3 minute read
Virginia Crosbie speaking in the House of Commons

A Welsh Conservative MP said she wears a stab-proof jacket when meeting constituents, as she warned of the scale of abuse facing politicians.

Virginia Crosbie said that, following the murder of MP Sir David Amess, who was fatally stabbed during a constituency surgery in October 2021, she wears the protective garment for face-to-face meetings with local voters.

Downing Street described such reports as “concerning” and said that the Government would take “every appropriate measure” to protect MPs.

Ms Crosbie, who represents Ynys Mon, told GB News: “I have been in difficult situations. I have surgeries, I do face-to-face surgeries where I wear a stab jacket, obviously following the murder of David Amess.

“And also, I have security protection as well. I think it’s important I have direct contact with my constituents. And, unfortunately, this is one of the things I have to do to ensure that I can actually do the job that I was elected to do.”

Finchley Tory MP Mike Freer has previously said he and his staff had decided to wear stab vests and carry panic alarms for constituency surgeries.

Abuse

Ms Crosbie, who was first elected in December 2019, has spoken before about the threats and abuse she has received, and said things have not improved for MPs.

“Absolutely not. If anything, it’s even worse. And it’s not just myself – it’s a lot of other, particularly female, MPs. Even before we’ve had breakfast many of us have received one or two threats.”

She called for more “accountability” on social media.

“I think there’s an awful lot more that we can do in terms of social media and abuse. I think there needs to be more accountability.

“The reality is people can turn to social media with impunity. I believe Twitter accounts should be verified, and on Facebook there needs to be fines, and there needs to be fines on some of these social media companies for allowing this content.”

But Ms Crosbie said she would still urge people, especially women, to enter politics.

Concerns

However, it comes as other MPs raised concerns that another politician could be killed before the safety of parliamentarians is improved.

Conservative MP James Sunderland told the Times: “I was the last MP to see David Amess.”

He said he feared that Sir David and Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered in 2016, “won’t be the last”.

“Heaven forbid it happens again, but it’s a question of when, not if, and what we have to do is do everything in our power to prepare us for those situations.”

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The safety of MPs is very important.

“There is a great deal of work that goes on both across government and with the parliamentary authorities on this.

“The government — mainly the Home Office — will take every appropriate measure to ensure the safety of MPs.”


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Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago

Having met Rhun I doubt he will wear a stab-vest when he becomes the MP for Ynys Mon. What a pity we have fallen so far into a Tory nightmare in these islands…

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

It started with the threat of an egg and she was going to have all the children arrested for threatening her life with free range eggs…I’d forgotten that, I bet there are few older and wiser kids on Ynys Mon by now who remember it very well…

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

There are a couple of ‘agent provocateurs’ on here…

Donna
Donna
1 year ago

There should be accountability on social media, but it should work both ways. The MPs and MS’s should also be held accountable for what they publish, they should not be allowed to post lies and many should have more decorum towards their opposition. It can be done, look at Finance which is heavily regulated and controls are in place for advertising including SM.
It is easier for the same MPs to blame the plebs though. The fish rots from the head and all these problems of hate have started with the rotten media and exacerbated by her government.

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
1 year ago
Reply to  Donna

Sorry but there is absolutely no justification whatsoever for MPs (of any party) being murdered or being in fear of their lives.

Lib Dem YesCymru Infiltrator
Lib Dem YesCymru Infiltrator
1 year ago

After 6 years, we can say Brexit has begun. Of course no public servant should need a stab vest. But when Tories asked for Brexit, this is the world you asked for. You got what you asked for – no common ground – that is what Brexit means.

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
1 year ago

“Got what you asked for”??? Afraid thats an absolutely deplorable comment! There is no justification whatsoever for MPs (of any party) being murdered or being in fear of their lives.

Last edited 1 year ago by Leigh Richards
Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

The health minister and his bosses in no’s 10 and 11 has 70% of the population in fear of their lives…

Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
1 year ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

I entirely agree with your ‘no justification’ comments but so do the two contributors you seem to have misinterpreted. One speaks of ‘accountability’. Correct and does not justify attacks on MPs. The other does not justify attacks either but correctly points out that the hate endeavour called ‘Brexit’ WAS what many people wanted and they got it. The whole thing was driven through by lies and blood curdling hatred. I’ll never forget the atmosphere in the build up to the vote. Frightening and sickening. We live with the consequences today. An observation not a justification.

Fi yn unig
Fi yn unig
1 year ago

No criticism from me on the wearing of stab protection but what I do find ironic is that we get to find this out via an interview given to a hate speech TV station which engages in rabble rousing on a daily basis. Bizarre.

Leigh Richards
Leigh Richards
1 year ago

Deeply disturbing to see some in the comment section here saying the MP has brought this upon herself because she’s a tory – there is absolutely no justification whatsoever for MPs (of any party) being murdered or being in fear of their lives.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

Knife crime over the last 12 years…discuss…

NOT Grayham Jones
NOT Grayham Jones
1 year ago
Reply to  Leigh Richards

Well said and i completely agree- yes politics is important but for most people its not the most important thing in their lives- its good to discuss politics and agree to disagree about things as long as we know the boundaries of discussion.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago

One word and an abbreviation ‘Brexit etc ‘, if you rather the general population just remains ignorant of why they are dying younger and their children can’t get a home, job, train, or basic health care then carry on !

NOT Grayham Jones
NOT Grayham Jones
1 year ago
Reply to  Mab Meirion

Your response tells me why this Lady fears for her life and has to wear stab jackets- So much anger – i know she is a MP but its is stretching it to blame her for all of the current ills in the world.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
1 year ago

Rubbish!

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
1 year ago

Tory turncoat Virginia Crosbie has been an abject failure for the people of Mam Cymru. She’s using emotive rhetoric to gain sympathy with the electorate. It won’t wash. Plaid Cymru’s Rhun Ap Iorwerth will become the next MP for Ynys Mon and the self-proclaimed atomic pussy will scamper away with her tail between her legs into shadows where she belongs.

CJPh
CJPh
1 year ago

On the one hand – political violence in a democratic society is abhorrent. I’m very proud to live in Cymru where we do not resort to such actions as a matter of course. Anyone on these boards who are tacitly endorsing violence, or hand waving or blaming rhetoric YOU disagree with for incurring violence, you should be ashamed of yourselves. Odious simpletons with the political IQ of crayola-scribbling children with broken moral compasses, ever one of you. On the other hand – why in the world would she ever publicise this? Why mention security arrangements? How can the government agencies… Read more »

Last edited 1 year ago by CJPh
David
David
1 year ago
Reply to  CJPh

That was my point above.

Ivor Schilling
Ivor Schilling
1 year ago
Reply to  CJPh

Agreed.

We have to keep a keen eye out for tactics of the UK state, aiming to undermine the Welsh freedom movement, by insinuating there is some latent violent tendency waiting to break through at any moment, and which will see innocent unionist MPs having to resort to helmets, bulletproof cars, stab vests, and so forth. I am sure that its only a matter of time before this kind of cynical counter-activity becomes open and clear.

For now, as in the above story, it is still at the latent dog-whistle stage. But let’s be vigilant.

Last edited 1 year ago by Ivor Schilling
Ivor Schilling
Ivor Schilling
1 year ago

Are you intellectually retarded? Sorry to hear it.

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