Theresa May orders investigation into 'horrifying' abuse of MPs
3 min read
Theresa May has ordered a review into the intimidation of politicians after MPs suffered a torrent of abuse from their opponents during the election campaign.
The Committee on Standards in Public Life will look into whether existing measures to protect candidates are effective and enforceable.
The announcement came as MPs revealed the disturbing details of the attacks they have faced in recent months.
Diane Abbott said she was called a "n****r" on a daily basis, while Jewish Tory MP Andrew Percy said he was called "Zionist scum" in his own constituency by people claiming to be Jeremy Corbyn supporters.
Mrs May called on all parties to work to “stamp out” the abuse of candidates, after both the Tories and Labour accused each other of unacceptable practices.
“I have been horrified by stories from colleagues about the scale and nature of the intimidation, bullying and harassment they suffered during the general election campaign,” the Prime Minister said.
“Robust debate is a vital part of our democracy, but there can be no place for the shocking threats and abuse we have seen in recent months.
“We must all work together to banish this behaviour, and I would urge MPs and candidates from all parties to report their experiences to this review so we get the fullest possible picture – and can take the action required to stamp it out.”
The review was formally announced by Constitution Minister Chris Skidmore after a Westminster Hall debate on the subject this afternoon.
He said: “A cornerstone of our democracy is that everyone’s voice matters and no-one should be intimidated by abuse. We need to ensure that our democracy is a tolerant and inclusive one, in which all future candidates for election will not be dissuaded or intimidated from standing for public office.”
The debate heard evidence from a string of MPs from all parties on the abuse they had faced from members of the public.
Conservative MP Simon Hart, who led the debate, called on social media companies to do more to clamp down on the problem.
He added: "It's not about winning votes any more, it's not about winning arguments. It's about driving people out of politics altogether."
Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said she regularly received rape and death threats, and was called a n****r on a daily basis.
"We are not talking about robust debate, we are talking about mindless abuse, and in my case the mindless abuse has been characteristically racist and sexist," she said.
"People would not come up to me and attack me for being a n****r in public, but they would do it online. This is every day. My staff switch on their computer, they go on Twitter and Facebook and they see this stuff."
Tory MP Andrew Percy, who is Jewish, said the abuse he suffered in the recent election was different to anything he had encountered before.
He said: "I never thought in my own constituency somebody would come up to me and start shouting the leader of the opposition's name and start shouting 'Israeli and Zionist scum'. That's what's happening in our democracy."
In an open letter to Tory chairman Patrick McLoughlin before the debate, Labour chairman Ian Lavery and frontbencher Cat Smith accused the Conservatives of making unfair personal attacks on Diane Abbott and basing their election campaign on “smears and untruths”.
“Such attacks on politicians, the consequent intimidating and abusive language and threats of violence towards them online, deter many people from entering politics,” they said.
“Parties and politicians have a responsibility to set an example, by treating others with dignity and respect, including those with whom we strongly disagree. The Conservative party has instead promoted personal attacks as a core component of its national campaign.”
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