Charlie Kirk's murder wasn't a warning of political violence to come... it's already here, says Nana Akua

Charlie Kirk's murder wasn't a warning of political violence to come... it's already here.

Just yesterday - 24 hours after Kirk's death, Labour MP Sharon Hodgson's office was set on fire in a suspected arson attack. The message “328 days of blood on your hands” was spray-painted on a wall.

Earlier this year, two homes and a car linked to the Prime Minister were set alight - he condemned the fires as 'attacks on democracy'.

And on Christmas Eve last year, former Tory MP Mike Freer's constituency office was set alight. Mr Freer cited the fire and unrelated death threats when he stood down last year.

While terrifying, these incidents pale in comparison to the fate of Sir David Amess.

In 2021, the Tory MP was murdered at his constituency surgery by an Islamic extremist of Somalian heritage.

In 2016, Jo Cox was murdered by a white supremacist, who shouted 'Britain first' just days before the EU referendum.

In May 2010, current Labour minister Stephen Timms survived an attempted murder by Islamist terrorist Roshonara Choudhry who stabbed him twice in the abdomen at his constituency surgery.

And just today, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage spoke out about the threats he faces.

To those that think Charlie Kirk's murder was just a warning, a precursor of things to come here in the UK... think again, political violence is already here. Anyone that is prepared to put their head above the parapet and express their - sometimes controversial - opinion is already in danger.