A Personal Reflection on Recent Events

I have reflected deeply since yesterday on whether to share this publicly. I generally prefer to focus on the positives in life and in service, but as the events are now public and news is spreading both nationally and internationally, I feel it is important to give you my perspective, so that you fully understand what I stand for, regardless of where you stand.

Yesterday, I attended a full Thetford Town Council meeting, something I have done monthly for the past six years. These meetings begin with a 15-minute session for public questions and comments, a valuable opportunity for residents to express concerns or ask questions directly to all councillors. I have always welcomed this process as one of the most democratic and transparent aspects of local government.

As is the nature of free speech, this time is sometimes taken up by a very small but loud minority who use the platform to raise issues rooted in conspiracy theories or topics unrelated to the town council’s responsibilities, matters more appropriate for county, national, or even international forums. Still, every constituent is given three minutes to speak, and we try to guide them to the appropriate authority if needed.

On Tuesday, 24th June, I was preparing to chair the meeting when a group of around 30 individuals, many of them frequent attendees, gathered near the entrance, causing a loud and disruptive scene with cameras and aggressive commentary. As the Mayor and Chair, it is my duty to ensure the meeting runs smoothly, so I approached the group with security and asked if there was anything I could do to help bring the meeting to order.

What followed was shocking. I was confronted by a hostile crowd hurling death threats and xenophobic abuse, telling me that the country I have called home for over 20 years, a town I have served with all my heart, was no place for a foreigner, and that I had no right to be mayor.

Were it not for the professionalism of our security team, and the bravery of my husband, who stepped in between me and the mob when individuals began to raise their hands with threatening gestures, I might be telling a very different story today. My husband suffered some cuts on his arm, but true to his character, he refused to be intimidated.

The police responded quickly and efficiently, and after enduring abuse themselves, dispersed the crowd.

If you ask me whether I feared for my life? perhaps. But more than anything, I feared for the safety of my husband and children.

Despite this, I remain steadfast in my duty. I was elected to serve this community to the best of my ability, and I will not be deterred by threats or hatred.

In two days, I will be speaking publicly in London, representing our town in a forum that promotes youth engagement, particularly among young women in local democracy. My message to them is the following: believe in yourself and in your moral compass. Regardless of your background or party, stand firm. If your principles are just, and your will is strong, trust in this great nation’s institutions and values.

Much blood has been shed for the freedoms we now enjoy. We owe it to those who came before us to honour their legacy by continuing their work, undaunted and with integrity.

I am deeply grateful for the over 100 calls, texts, emails, and messages of support from councillor colleagues, MPs, members of our community, and even from abroad. Your support gives me the strength to continue.

In a world where the surreal sometimes becomes reality, we must hold steady to our values and not allow ourselves to be swayed by fear or frustration.

It is an honour to give back to the country and community that welcomed me as one of their own. This is my home.