OPINION: Terrorising an elected official out of office is NOT democracy
Mike Freer's hounding out of office for his support for the Jewish community is an indelible and ugly mark on our society, writes Rabbi Miriam Berger
The democratic process enables us to be appreciative of the hard work of a local MP even if we didn’t vote for them. The democratic process means that although we aren’t going to agree with every vote or the stance taken on every issue, we can still be heard.
The democratic process means when someone is voted fairly into a role, their position should be respected and votes and voices should be the only way to change the status quo.
Terrorising someone out of their position as MP is an abhorrent concept for a free, civil and democratic society.
Mike Freer took his allyship of the Jewish community within his constituency to heart and it didn’t matter where we were on the political spectrum, we knew he represented us, his Jewish constituents. I’m sure many others, whether part of other minority groups or none, felt he acted honourably and worked hard representing their needs too.
Yet every member of my shul who assumed he was a fellow Jew and just a member of a neighbouring shul, hence we saw him at local events rather than synagogue services, reminded me that when someone stands shoulder to shoulder with you long enough they become part of you in their own way. Never for a moment would I have wanted his unwavering support to mean he bore the brunt of the worst of being Jewish without the wonderful benefits that our Jewish community brings.
Some of the hatred directed at Mike is similar to that which sadly all our MPs face at times in their career, but he was also subject to antisemitism and anti-Israel hatred on top. He received the unpleasant threats but none of the joy of our Jewish heritage and culture that so many of us take for granted. His representation was true democracy. The hounding out of his post is a stain on our society and something we all need to speak out against.
- Rabbi Miriam Berger is the founder of Wellspring, an organisation championing the combination of talking therapies and the ritual of mikveh, immersion to mark moments of transition in life.
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