Falkirk councillors' plea to end abuse and intimidation of politicians

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An emotional plea has been made by Falkirk councillors to look at ways to protect members from abuse, intimidation and threats that have become more common in recent years.

Yesterday (Wednesday), SNP councillor Iain Sinclair paid tribute to the late Labour MP Jo Cox and Conservative MP Sir David Amess - both murdered while carrying out their duties as members of parliament.

And he apologised to Falkirk Council colleagues for getting emotional as he spoke of the abuse, threats and intimidation that politicians, including local councillors, now face all too often. Read more: Freedom of Falkirk for miners' group that 'won't forget the battles of the past' "Cars set ablaze, threatening emails, abusive social media messages and, worryingly, public meetings where members of the public can call for local councillors to be executed and be met with a round of applause."When did this become acceptable?" he asked.Councillor Sinclair has worked as a member of staff in both UK and Scottish Parliaments, so has friends and colleagues in both places.He remembered the shock of hearing that Jo Cox had been murdered by a far-right extremist while carrying out her duties as an MP in 2016.The same shock and fear was felt once again when Conservative MP Sir David Amess was murdered in 2021 at one of his surgeries.Cllr Sinclair admitted there have been times when he wondered "if putting my family through everything that comes with the spotlight of elected office was the right thing to do".But he told members that being elected to Falkirk Council to represent Falkirk North, he said, was "an honour and a privilege".He added: "While elected members in all branches of government may not always get it right, we carry ourselves forward with the