Should people be free to make death threats? Sometimes, yes

The keyboard weirdos bombarding Labour MP Jess Phillips with threats, after she scoffed at the idea of marking International Men’s Day with a debate in parliament, are cretins of the highest order. Pathetically hiding behind made-up names and cartoon avatars, they harangue a politician for saying something they disagree with. Not by saying to her ‘I disagree with you,’ but rather ‘I think you should be raped’. If you know one of them, please give them a clip round the lughole, and perhaps confiscate their gadgets.

But should these morons be investigated by the authorities? I’m not so sure. Ms Phillips has reported some of her ugly maulers to the police. I think that could be a mistake. For the fact is — and it’s not a pleasant fact, I admit — that sometimes a threat of violence is not really a threat of violence. It is ill-formed political anger, an expression of dissent by those who, for whatever reason, lack the ability, or desire, to say what’s really on their minds.