Daniel Yates: Councillors should not be subjected to threats

Over recent years many threats of death, sexual violence and physical assault have been made across the political spectrum, with several cases reaching the courts and seeing offenders jailed.

It is of enormous concern that in the majority of these cases the victims have been women and have simply been undertaking their public duties as a politician. It is also of great concern to me and to the right minded people in the city that this sort of behaviour is not simply limited to Members of Parliament or to people working in the national and international political arena.

Last week Karen Barford, the city councillor with responsibility for the health and wellbeing of our residents, had to announce that she has taken the difficult decision not to stand at next year’s city council elections due to such abhorrent behaviour targeting her.

This behaviour, from a range of city residents, has included: being followed home from a council meeting over several miles by a man hiding his face and repeatedly driving in an aggressive way – even while being reported to the police; being given options by email to choose the method of her own death; being threatened with a slow and painful death over the phone – which a family member overheard; anonymous calls describing her movements, her clothing and telling her that she was being watched.

As a result of the murder of Jo Cox, the city council and police have upped their response to such matters, and be assured that these are not isolated instances and they have not been made to only one councillor either. However I want to make really clear – disagree politically with decisions as much as you like. We expect that. But don’t threaten us with a slow and painful death. That’s not just unlawful but the impact for the city is that one of our brightest newer councillors has stepped back from the limelight to remove the threat to her own personal safety from the behaviour of a tiny minority. As a city we are better than this – let’s prove it.

Daniel Yates is the Labour leader of Brighton & Hove City Council.