Rachel Blake is calling for "respect, courage and compassion" in politics.In an age of rising abuse and division, we must reclaim a politics grounded in respect, courage, and compassion — not hatred and fear.Politics has never been easy, and nor should it be. Debate, disagreement and scrutiny are vital to our democracy and should be actively encouraged.  To be elected as a Member of Parliament is an honour, and it is one of the most important and rewarding jobs any of us will ever hold. Rising to the challenge of the debate is vital to our roles.  But something fundamental is shifting, and not for the better.Increasingly, the political space is becoming not just contested, but poisoned.  Threats, abuse and intimidation are not only becoming more common, but more severe. What once felt like rare exceptions are fast becoming an accepted, even expected and understood as part of the job. One in five MPs say abuse has affected their loved ones' sense of safety. &l