AN SNP MP has revealed that three people have been prosecuted for abusing her.
Kirsty Blackman opened up about her ordeal on social media, saying she has also reported others to the police who have not been prosecuted.
It comes amid continuing debate around what security and protections should be put in place for MPs, following the death of Sir David Amess on Friday.
Fellow SNP MP Joanna Cherry said yesterday she had considered giving up politics due to the abuse she has suffered.
Writing on Twitter, Ms Blackman said: “During my time as an MP, three different men have been in court as a result of their separate threatening behaviour toward me.
“All three were convicted. These are the ones that have made it to court - I have also made a number of police reports that have not met the threshold.”
The MP for Aberdeen North was first elected in 2015, and said she has not spoken about the incidents before as she did not want her children to be alarmed.
She said one of the men sent her a threatening letter, another was “verbally abusive” and the third “travelled from the south of England to Aberdeen where he was intercepted by police.”
She continued: “ Being an MP attracts hatred, anger and threats. This should not be the case. It’s not safe to be an MP, but it is important that people are represented, and that they can speak to their representatives. It’s a tough balance to strike.
“I don’t know how to fix this, other than continued legal action against the perpetrators. I imagine all MPs continually review their security arrangements. I certainly do.
“I don’t talk about this. I’ve said previously that the very last thing I want is for my children to go to school and catch sight of a newspaper reporting on threats to their mum, or to have other parents or teachers mention it.”
Yesterday MPs gathered in the Commons to pay tribute to Sir David, who was stabbed while holding a constituency surgery in Southend on Friday afternoon.
He was treated at the scene but died shortly after the incident.
Priti Patel confirmed a review was ongoing into MPs security, and was due to conclude in the next few days.
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