Compassion Is Not Weakness – It’s What Our Politics Desperately Needs, MP Says

Rachel Blake is calling for "respect, courage and compassion" in politics.In an age of rising abuse and division, we must reclaim a politics grounded in respect, courage, and compassion — not hatred and fear.Politics has never been easy, and nor should it be. Debate, disagreement and scrutiny are vital to our democracy and should be actively encouraged. To be elected as a Member of Parliament is an honour, and it is one of the most important and rewarding jobs any of us will ever hold. Rising to the challenge of the debate is vital to our roles. But something fundamental is shifting, and not for the better.Increasingly, the political space is becoming not just contested, but poisoned. Threats, abuse and intimidation are not only becoming more common, but more severe. What once felt like rare exceptions are fast becoming an accepted, even expected and understood as part of the job. One in five MPs say abuse has affected their loved ones' sense of safety. The numbers are stark. Last year, a Speaker’s Conference was held to confront the growing crisis of abuse and intimidation in public life. It brought together voices from across the political spectrum to look seriously at how threats, harassment and toxicity are affecting our democracy and heard from experts in elections and public life.According to recent surveys as a part of the Speakers conference, half of MPs report that abuse has made them feel anxious or depressed. More than half say it has left them feeling unsafe. A third of my colleagues have considered not standing for reelection, and one in six have considered resigning. That is not a sign of a healthy democracy, that is a sign of a system under strain.It doesn’t stop with MPs. Our staff, the people who answer phones, open emails, and meet with constituents, often bear the brunt. Nearly half report feeling unsafe or mentally unwell because of the abuse they or their MP have received. Families, too, feel the toll. One in five MPs say abuse has affected their loved ones’ sense of safety.Some say this is simply part of public life. But I refuse to accept that. We must never normalise this. We must never allow fear and intimidation to dictate how we engage with each other, or how we govern. Our democracy can only function when disagreement does not descend into dehumanisation. It is in this context that we must challenge those who seek to gain from division. The Reform Party, as an example, are some of the main culprits. The normalisation of inflammatory language has only continued since their first MP’s were elected in July 2024. Their newest MP Sarah Pochin, just days into her new role, stood in the chamber and asked the prime minister whether the UK would “ban the burqa”, a question that undermines our shared values, does nothing to improve national unity, or public safety.This wasn’t just a provocative question, it was dog whistle politics, dressed up as political debate. It sends a message, both inside and outside parliament, that certain groups are to be singled out and scapegoated. This isn’t tough politics. It’s reckless provocation, and it puts people in danger.This language sets the tone for online pile-ons, street-level threats, and anonymous letters that speak of “public hangings”. That isn’t democratic expression. It’s a warning sign.We must take the time to remember Jo Cox who was sadly murdered in 2016. Her words from her maiden speech still resonate: “We are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.” We owe it to her, and to our country, to live up to that.Floral tributes for Jo Cox, in Parliament Square, outside the House of Parliament in London.Compassion in politics is not about being nice. It’s about recognising that every decision we make affects real people. That the way we speak shapes the climate we live in. And that our democracy can only function when disagreement does not descend into dehumanisation.Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, put it clearly: “Abuse, threats and intimidation should never be part of this job. It threatens the health of our democracy, and forces people to choose between the public good and their own safety and wellbeing.”That is what’s at stake. Already, some MPs self-censor. Some avoid speaking on issues they care deeply about for fear of repercussions. And when that happens, when public servants feel unable to speak freely — democracy loses.The Speaker’s Conference established by Parliament last year recognises this. It acknowledges that elections must be conducted freely and fairly, and that no one should be dissuaded from standing for public office out of fear. But it’s up to all of us, as politicians, candidates, journalists and citizens — to uphold that standard.We can have robust debate without resorting to cruelty. We can disagree without dehumanising. And we can stand firm without descending into fear.In the Cities of London and Westminster, I see every day the power of community, respect, and service. That’s the politics I believe in.That’s the politics our country needs. Now more than ever, we must choose compassion — not because it is easy, but because it is right.Rachel Blake is applying to be the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Compassion in Politics.Jo Cox MP was murdered on June 16, 2016, while on her way to her surgery in her constituency in Batley and Spen.Related...Keir Starmer Says Nigel Farage Is Trying To 'Poison Our Politics'Reform UK's First Mayor Walks Away From Sky News Interview In Clash Over 'Appropriate' PoliticsExclusive: Ministers Accused Of 'Dog Whistle Politics' Over Plan To Publish Nationalities Of Foreign Criminals

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