Politics - Simon Hoare MP

however, that it shines a light on lessons needed to be learned by us all. We politicos need less populist dogma driving a wedge between people, and more respectful debate designed to bind together and heal. The country needs to learn that we politicians are not saints. We can get it wrong, fail and annoy. When we do it must be called out and appropriate sanctions taken. However, the vile tsunami of social media that pours continually from keyboards must stop. The anonymity of social media has made it anti-social media. I know I’ve typed a few things in the past that should have been phrased differently. Have been less dogmatic. Let’s remind ourselves we can disagree without being disagreeable. Many of us use metaphor, irony, sarcasm and robust language knowing we do not mean the words literally. We presume that our readers, listeners, followers will understand this. However, we make an error when we presume that everyone else will ‘get it’. The disturbed mind, the troubled soul, often needs little to break it and impel it to acts of ill and evil.

My own story

I remember receiving, shortly after my first election in 2015, an absolutely abhorrent email. The author hoped I would die in anguish with my children surrounding me helpless and then burn in hell’s fire (you will get the drift). I contacted the sender to ask these questions in relation to his message: would he have said it face to face; would he have said it a telephone call; would he have put it in a letter? I asked him to reread what he had sent me. He was appalled. He cried. He apologised. We then had a perfectly civil conversation.

There is too much ‘type and press send’. An email address, Twitter handle or social media account does not create a cloak of anonymity. It does not absolve one of responsibility “...hoped I would die for one’s words. It harms. It in anguish with my hurts. It invokes children surrounding anxiety and me helpless and then burn in hell’s fire” fear. It creates an imbalance of entitlement – I can say what I want (says the writer) but woe betide if my MP/Councillor/ official fights fire with fire. So, as we come to terms with the murder of a decent public servant, husband and father killed solely because he was a public servant, let us try to find a way as a country to cherish and use our freedom of thought and speech but in ways that don’t lead to hate, violence and potential loss of life. I remain of the view that we can. I only hope that we do.