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Protesters who target MPs’ homes will face up to six months in jail under Home Office plans. Demonstrating outside the home of public office holders – where the intention is to influence them in their role or an aspect of their private life – will be made a criminal offence as part of the law changes. The measures will be enacted through amendments to Labour’s Crime and Policing Bill, which is currently being debated by Parliament. They follow a survey carried out by Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, which found that almost all MPs – 96 per cent – had experienced at least one instance of harassment or intimidation. Just Stop Oil, whose activists sang climate crisis-inspired Christmas carols outside Sir Keir Starmer’s home, has previously defended the need to target MPs directly. It said it was a crucial tool to influence policy, although the group has since changed its tactics to stop high-profile stunts. Security minister Dan Jarvis said the measure was “serious but necessary and proportionate” to defend democracy and protect those taking part in British politics. “The level of abuse faced by those taking part in British politics is truly shocking – it’s a threat to our democracy. People should be able to participate in our politics without fearing for their own or their family’s safety,” he said. “Targeting public office holders at their homes crosses a line – it’s intimidation, not protest, and we’re putting a stop to it.” Sir Keir was understood to have been furious about Gaza protests outside his north London home by Youth Demand when he was leader of the opposition. The group placed children’s shoes outside his door while demanding further opposition from Labour to arms sales to Israel. Three people were charged under section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, which already covers harassment at a home address. Protesters were also arrested for targeting the constituency home of Rishi Sunak. Some MPs have previously complained that police have taken a laxer approach to protests outside their family homes, including when children were present. The former chair of the defence select committee Tobias Ellwood was targeted by dozens of pro-Gaza protesters at his home in Bournemouth, calling him complicit in genocide. The former Conservative MP Mike Freer said last year he was stepping down as an MP because of the repeated targeting of his constituency office, including in an arson attack. The Labour MP Stella Creasy has also condemned the targeting of MPs at their homes, having been the target of anti-abortion protesters in her Walthamstow constituency. Youth Demand recently staged a protest with body bags outside the home of David Lammy, when he was the foreign secretary. They said the Government was “allowing Israel to murder children en masse”. The amendment excludes official residences, thus allowing protests outside Downing Street or grace-and-favour homes for the prime minister or other ministers, such as Chequers or Dorneywood. The Jo Cox Foundation welcomed the measure, saying that demonstrating outside someone’s home can cause distress for them and their family and poses serious safety concerns. Will Fletcher, interim chief executive for the foundation set up in memory of the murdered politician, said: “Protest and robust debate are important to our democracy, and there are many ways that people can make their voices heard without crossing the line into intimidation at someone’s home.”
