MP police protection 'now the norm,' says Welsh Tory

The number of reported threats against MPs has risen dramatically during the past year, according to a Tory MP.

Simon Hart, MP for Carmarthen West, said it was now the norm for politicians to have police protection at public events.

But he told MPs the threats against elected officials "stiffens our resolve to make sure democracy is not damaged".

However "this thuggery we've come to see as as a fairly regular feature of our lives", Mr Hart added.

Labour MP for Ynys Mon, Albert Owen told BBC Wales his constituency office had been attacked several times and some of the "threats and words have been very serious".

Mr Owen said: "Yes, it's concerning and I do feel for younger and newer MPs who are coming in and having to deal with this from day one because it's gradually got worse over time.

"We now have to, as a priority, have safety measures.

"There are certain concerns that I have and many other people have for the safety of my staff, my safety and my family's safety."

Last week, vandals painted the word "traitor" across the front of a Labour MP's constituency office.

Rhondda's Chris Bryant, who wants the UK to remain in the EU, said the graffiti would not change his mind on Brexit.

Tonia Antoniazzi, MP for Gower, has also been branded a "traitor" because of her views on Brexit.

On a leaflet recently sent to 10,000 homes in the Swansea area, the word traitor was written beneath a photograph of Ms Antoniazzi.

Responding to the incident, Ms Antoniazzi said: "It saddens me that people think it's acceptable to use such language.

"It's worrying for the safety of our families to be branded as such and for leaflets to be posted through people's doors in Swansea."

In April, Plaid Cymru's Hywel Williams found his constituency office sprayed with graffiti, with the word "scum" written in large letters on the front door.

Mr Hart said he was certain that the "toxicity has been unleashed by Brexit" with politicians on both sides under attack.

One Welsh Conservative has felt so threatened over the past year he now wears a body camera for protection.

Leave-supporting Monmouth MP David TC Davies said "verbal abuse, intimidation and threats" had been going on for some time.

"I've been sworn at and called scum," said Mr Davies.

Mr Hart told BBC Wales a lot of people told him: "I wouldn't become a member of my local council, I wouldn't stand for any elected position because why the hell would I want all of this going on, this constant level of abuse."

"It's very different from proper challenge and robust cut and thrust of politics, I'm not trying to be thin skinned about this," he said.

"I'm just trying to find a reasonable balance between angry freedom of speech, which we should expect, and downright online or offline thuggery, which actually we shouldn't expect."

He urged police to react quicker to intimidating behaviour, and also wants social networks to take more responsibility to deal with abusive material on their platforms.