Amber Rudd accuses Boris Johnson of using language which 'incites violence'
2 min read
Amber Rudd has accused Boris Johnson of using language which could "incite violence".
The former Cabinet minister said the Prime Minister was taking a "casual approach" to the safety of MPs after he repeatedly refused to stop describing anti-no deal legislation as a "surrender act".
In an interview with the Evening Standard, Ms Rudd, who resigned as Work and Pensions Secretary and quit the Tory Party earlier this month, said she was "disappointed and stunned" at the PM's remarks in the Commons on Wednesday evening.
Mr Johnson said the best way for MPs to feel safe - and to honour the memory of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox - was to "deliver Brexit".
Asked if the Prime Minister's comments risked provoking violence, Ms Rudd said: "It does. The sort of language I'm afraid we've seen more and more of coming out from Number 10 does incite violence.
"It's the sort of language people think legitimises a more aggressive approach and sometimes violence."
Her comments come after a several MPs reported both they and their staff had been the subject of intimidation and death threats, with some claiming the abuse had quoted remarks made by the Prime Minister.
Ms Rudd added: "The casual approach to the safety of MPs and their staff is immoral".
But the Prime Minister, who said he "deplores threats" against staff, has refused to soften his rhetoric, saying that the best way for MPs to ensure their safety was to deliver Brexit.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister's top adviser, Dominic Cummings, said on Thursday that anger was to be expected after MPs attempted to delay the Article 50 deadline.
He said: "If you are a bunch of politicians and say that we swear we are going to respect the result of a democratic vote, and then after you lose you say, 'we don't want to respect that vote', what do you expect to happen?
"In the end, the situation can only be resolved by Parliament honouring its promise to respect the result."
Elsewhere in the interview, the Hastings MP told the paper she was considering standing against her former party at the next election if she could find a "strong Remain constituency".
"The most likely place for me to stand, if I need to stand as an Independent Conservative would be somewhere with a strong Remain constituency, so I am looking around," she said.
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