JOANNA Cherry has said she contemplated leaving elected politics due to the level of abuse and threats she receives.
The high-profile SNP MP said she once required a police escort at her constituency surgery because of a death threat.
She spoke out following the murder of Conservative MP Sir David Amess, who was stabbed multiple times while meeting his constituents in Essex on Friday.
A 25-year-old man, understood to be Ali Harbi Ali, was arrested at the scene and remains in police custody.
Ms Cherry, who represents Edinburgh South West, said Sir David's tragic death "has prompted us all to think about the safety of people in public life and the way debate is conducted in our society".
Writing in the Daily Record, she added: "I am acutely aware from my own personal experience of the threats to the safety of MPs and our staff."
She said on one occasion a constituent "behaved in such a menacing and threatening manner I and my office manager were in fear of our lives".
Ms Cherry wrote: "We were so terrified that after he left we pushed all the furniture against the door of the room in the suburban library where my surgery was being held while we waited for the police to arrive.
"Subsequently we had to go to court to give evidence against him. He was convicted.
"Earlier this year another man was convicted after he threatened me with sexual violence."
Ms Cherry said the UK needs to consider whether MPs "can continue to meet total strangers at vulnerable locations such as libraries and church halls".
She said: "During the height of the pandemic we took our surgeries online or by phone.
"We may need to return to doing this while Parliament and the police look at what should happen in the long term."
She also raised the debate around trans rights, and said "concerted efforts" are being made to remove women from public life "simply for our belief in the importance of biological sex and the importance of preserving the sex-based protections which the Equality Act affords women and the same sex attracted".
Ms Cherry said: "Recently I contemplated leaving elected politics due to the level of abuse and threats but I’ve decided to stay and fight my corner.
"We must not let the bullies win. Our democracy is at stake."
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