More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A Kent MP has told how 'vile emails' from a constituent who turned out to be an unlicensed gun holder prompted him to change his security arrangements.
Damian Green, who represents Ashford, was commenting following the fatal stabbing of Tory colleague Sir David Amess on Friday.
Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab said today the option of security guards at MPs' constituency surgeries might be considered.
But Mr Green says there would be limits to extra security for MPs and he is among many who intend to carry on with face-to-face surgeries.
Speaking on Radio 5, he said that he would continue to run surgeries and make visits but extra security would only go so far.
“In the end, important though those [surgeries] are, it is important also that I live a life in my constituency and last Friday, I was discussing GP surgeries and businesses, the bread and butter job that all MPs do.
“That’s an important part of the job, that people can see you but, but unless you actually have the sort of security that surrounds prime ministers, and very senior ministers all the time for every MP, then there is going to be an element of risk.
"I know a lot of my colleagues don't want to give that up because they rightly regard it as a very important part of the job.
"People have developed a sort of contempt for politicians but they have to realise that politicians are a necessary part.”
Mr Green also told the BBC how he had to alter his security arrangements after police found one of his constituents had an unlicensed gun.
He says the man had been sending “a series of pretty vile emails”, which he did not report as they did not contain a direct threat.
Police visited the man after he sent abusive emails to then Prime Minister David Cameron and discovered had an unlicensed gun.
Mr Green said, as a result, he reported “everything” very quickly to the police.
Meanwhile, Natalie Elphicke MP has called for zero tolerance of abuse on public service workers after Sir David was stabbed.
