Political punchbags: why we need to stop using politicians as targets

In a world where an MP singing along to Robyn is labelled a sign of national decline, the slogan 'If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution' gains new meaning.

Abuse and violence towards politicians is at an all-time high.

Every day, MPs share stories of criminal proceedings against harassers, offices being attacked, and fears for families and staff. In the past few weeks alone, I know of three colleagues subjected to abuse and harassment in their constituencies.

Parliamentary security focuses on encouraging MPs to be further away from harm, often by moving them from their constituents. We're expected to have guards at public events, further deepening the sense that MPs are targets in waiting.

Dismissal of the social-media cesspit misses how behaviour online feeds the real world.

Since Elon Musk took over, Twitter has promoted conservative material and demoted alternative perspectives. We know interactions between those who disagree online are more abusive than ever – across all countries, including our own.

Public debate and good policy-making only thrive when people can speak freely and listen carefully – something that's harder to do in a culture where the bile towards public figures is now so commonplace.

Politicians from the least-represented areas of society repeatedly admit this culture puts them off participation altogether. It's noticeable that attempts at public shaming are disproportionately handed out to women and people of colour.

I have yet to see any posts berating those politicians who boast about the amount of time they spend in the pub, from those who devoted hours of criticism to my poor two-step.

If we want to stop politicians being punched, we need to stop using them as punchbags.

This weekend I celebrated my birthday. As a consequence, someone posted a picture of me portrayed as a Nazi. That such a basic human pleasure as dancing generates such a reaction explains why it seems only those who enjoy conflict or who have already worked in politics 24/7 seem to stand for office.