Ian Gow MP, 1937-1990  

ALMOST exactly 20 years ago, Conservative MP Ian Gow left his home in East Sussex and was reversing his car down the driveway when a Semtex bomb, placed in the vehicle by IRA terrorists, detonated. He died within minutes. It is hard to believe that there was a time when individuals in public life were targeted by terrorists simply for speaking their minds and having the temerity to disagree with the men holding the Armalites. There is already a memorial in the House of Commons – in the shape of a shield above the main entrance to the chamber – to Airey Neave, also murdered by a republican terrorist car bomb, in 1979. Yesterday I received an email from Andrew Rosindell MP, asking me to lend my support to a campaign to have Ian similarly recognised. Naturally, I offered my support. We should not only feel angry that these brave men, who were guilty of no crime except the possession...