Sunak Condemns ‘Aggressive Mobs’ Following Pro-Palestinian Protest Outside MP’s Home

Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak hosts a press conference inside the Downing Street Briefing Room after Britain and Rwanda sign a new treaty to transfer illegal immigrants to the African country, in central London, on Dec. 7, 2023. James Manning/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Wednesday denounced the intimidation of MPs by “aggressive mobs,” appearing to be referencing a protest outside the home of Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood.

On Monday night, the MP for Bournemouth East was advised by the police to stay away from his family home where some 60 to 100 pro-Palestinian demonstrators were waving flags and placards, and chanting with megaphones.

Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, Mr. Sunak said, “Democracy is built on free debate—but increasingly MPs have been targeted by aggressive mobs for exercising those freedoms.

“We will never let those who intimidate prevail,” he said.

“It’s paramount MPs’ security is protected, and our democratic values upheld. Nothing is more important.”

The remarks come after Mr. Ellwood told BBC Radio 4’s “PM” programme that it’s “a step too far” to be “advertising the private address, to mobilise an aggressive, intimidating rally at an MP’s residential property, impacting not just on the family but also neighbours as well.”

Footage published by Sky News on Tuesday shows demonstrators outside Mr. Ellwood’s home on Monday evening waving Palestinian flags and placards while chanting slogans.

One of the posters features an image of the MP, with the words “Tobias Ellwood, You can’t hide. You’re complicit in genocide” and blood-red palm prints.

Mr. Ellwood told the broadcaster there were around 60—80 demonstrators. Corrie Drew, socialist former Labour candidate for Bournemouth East who posted a photo of herself speaking into a megaphone at the protest on social media, said there were 100 demonstrators.

Ms. Drew, a self-professed socialist, is reportedly a staunch supporter of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and has left the party in 2021. She has criticised Sir Keir Starmer on social media, saying the Labour leader “belongs in the bin of history along with [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu [sic] & the rest of the Israeli leaders guilty of genocide.”

Mr. Ellwood told the BBC that he and his family were heading toward their Dorset home when they were “advised not to go to the property” because “arriving through that crowd would’ve antagonised the situation.”

He said police officers reacted to the protest “very, very quickly,” protecting his property with police vehicles and deploying an armed response unit.

The so-called emergency demonstration on Monday was organised by the Palestine Solidarity Movement’s BCP branch, which said the protest was “entirely lawful” and was “in direct response to the Israeli bombings of Rafah refugee camp.”

The campaign group demanded Mr. Ellwood to “call for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire, sanction Israel,” and commit to seeing an end to what it claims to be “the brutal and illegal occupation of the Palestinian Territories.”

Labour has also been targeted by activists for not backing an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, with demonstrators and some vandals at their constituency offices, as emotions run high amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

A poster was found taped to a bus stop in shadow health secretary Wes Streeting’s east London constituency this week, saying “Vote for Genocide, Vote Labour.”

The poster depicts a black cross that appears to be dripping in a box on a ballot paper.

Apart from non-violent demonstrations, some MPs have been targeted in more severe threats.

Recently, justice minister Mike Freer announced his exit from politics following an arson attack on his constituency office.

The MP for Finchley and Golders Green, who is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel but not Jewish himself, said he has had “several serious threats” to his personal safety by radical Islamists and more so-called low-level incidents throughout his political career.

Mr. Freer said he had been targeted by Muslim Against Crusades and terrorist Ali Harbi Ali, who staked out his office before ultimately murdering Sir David Amess.

He has also said previously that he, and some of his other colleagues had had to wear stab vests in public events because of threats to their personal safety.

The Israel-Hamas war was triggered on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists, who are in charge of Gaza, led attacks on Israel, killing some 1,200 Israeli people and kidnapping some 240 people.

Israel, armed with its advanced defence system, has not reported further civilian casualties since. According to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, the death toll in the enclave has surpassed 28,000.

Sir Keir, in November, lost ten frontbenchers who resigned to vote for a Scottish National Party amendment to back a ceasefire.

The proposal, opposed by the ruling Conservative Party and Labour, was not adopted.

The SNP is now seeking a fresh vote on Gaza ceasefire next week, threatening to reopen up rifts within the Labour Party.