Kemi Badenoch has spoken to GB News after a man was jailed over death threats he sent to the Conservative leader and her husband.
Kieran Kyle sent three emails on May 2, threatening to shoot the Tory leader in the head. He was subsequently jailed for 20 weeks after pleading guilty to two counts of sending communications of an indecent or offensive nature.
Speaking to the People’s Channel today, Mrs Badenoch said she was “pleased” with the decision.
“As a politician, you get these death threats all the time, certainly when you have the profile I have,” she told Britain’s News Channel.
“What was particularly concerning was this man was targeting my husband as well. If you come after a politician’s family, you should get a prison sentence.”
The Tory leader said Kyle claimed to be an ex-IRA member, that “he would put a bullet in my head”, and “said all sorts of unspeakable things to my husband about what he was going to do to me”.
She noted the tragic cases of former MPs Jo Cox and Ann Widdecombe. “The threat is real,” Mrs Badenoch said.
And when asked whether 20 weeks was long enough, she replied: “The court has made a judgement. I just want to do my job. I have a job to do.
“If people don’t like the policies, they can criticise the policies. But going into threatening violence is why a lot of people are scared to come into politics.”
She added: “We need to stop this nonsense threat of political violence – whether it’s from the right or the left. A prison sentence for sending the emails is the right thing.
“Nobody should have to deal with these death threats – we’re just doing our job.”
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