Claire, writing in The MJ, argues that while most of us will never have our lives threatened for our views, Cancel Culture can make cowards of us all…
Public service is always impressive, a building block of democracy. It requires giving of yourself for the public good. In wake of the horrific murder of David Amess, Conservative MP for Southend West, there is a certain poignancy that the vicious attack happened at his constituency surgery, one of those non-glamorous rituals of MPs’ lives, where politicians make themselves physically available to voters; where they serve their public.
Many across society are vocally outraged in condemning this brutal, nihilistic killing. yet, recently, when public servants – perhaps frontline staff with less profile than elected politicians – have faced demonstrable physical threats – too often we stay silent.
Sir David was murdered on the anniversary of the unspeakable beheading of French school teacher Samuel Paty by an Islamist terrorist. I tried to raise an urgent question in the House of Lords about the implications of a teacher killed in the line of duty. My question was rejected: I was asked what urgent relevance it had for the UK Parliament. Lots, as it happens...
Read the full article here.