Last week, the Reform UK office in St Annes was vandalised. Whatever your political persuasion, that is not acceptable. We settle our differences at the ballot box, not through vandalism, violence or intimidation. We can and should disagree, but we must do so agreeably and within the rules of a civilised society.
I have had my fair share of disagreements with Reform in Fylde. Some of their members are certainly not my biggest fans. That is politics. That is democracy. We put forward different ideas, we challenge each other robustly and we trust the public to decide. I respect the fact that others hold different views to mine, even when they are strongly opposed to what I stand for.
Over the years I have come to know people from Reform, the Greens, the Liberal Democrats and Labour locally. Many of them are good, decent people who care deeply about the communities they live in. They put themselves forward for public scrutiny because they want to make where they live a better place. We often disagree, sometimes quite fundamentally, about how to go about achieving that. But the motivation to serve is something I recognise and, where it is genuine, I respect.
That is the point. In a healthy democracy we should campaign hard. We should defend and promote our own ideas with confidence. We should challenge each other’s records and policies. But we must also accept that others are entitled to reach different conclusions. None of us has a monopoly on wisdom, and none of us has the right to silence those we disagree with.
I know from personal experience how unpleasant intimidation can be. During my time in politics, I have been subjected to harassment and attempts to pressure me and my family. It is not nice, and it is not clever. I genuinely do not know what those responsible think they achieve. In my case, all it did was make me more determined to stand up for what I believe in and for the people I represent.
So my message to whoever carried out this vandalism is simple. You should be ashamed of yourself. Grow up or get out of our area. This is not how we behave in Fylde.
If you disagree with me, with Reform, with Labour or with anyone else, make your case. Campaign. Vote. That is how change is made in this country.
