Abuse could be driving good local politicians away
Online abuse and threats are putting people off public service, with councillors and MPs facing intimidation simply for doing their jobs. The consequences could be damaging for local communities and democracy itself
Someone born and brought up in the same city wanted to give something back. This was the city he loved and so decided to stand as a councillor. He did join a political party but was never party political.
When elected, he worked hard for his constituents but mainly on the bread-and-butter issues which affect most people: planning, potholes and even dog poo.
Unfortunately, despite never being controversial and always putting his constituents first, he started receiving some very unpleasant threats and insults online. After putting up with this nonsense for too long, he decided to resign. He lived locally and his children attended the local state school. Why should he put up with trolling? Although this example was not in Devon, it is a national problem. It affects our local politicians.
A councillor speaking at Plymouth City Council explained that in his village someone came up to him in the street shouting, “I hope you die a horrible death” after a planning dispute. Another drove his car at him. The Chief Constable himself admitted that he has had three death threats.
It made me wonder whether the abuse dished out by these idiots means that we are losing potentially good and caring politicians. Who wants to come forward to represent their community if it means horrific abuse? This is not party political and affects politicians from all parties.
We also know these are not idle threats. They can be dangerous. Two MPs have been murdered in their constituency over the last ten years, with Jo Cox in West Yorkshire in 2016 and Sir David Amess in Essex in 2021. Although no longer an MP, this year Ann Widdecombe was murdered in her home in Haytor Vale.
Our local MPs are not immune to abuse. Caroline Voaden told me she faces high levels of abuse, including some which pose a serious risk. Unfortunately, she was unable to give me specific examples or outline the scale of the problem due to data security. I understand this, but these data security rules must help the trolls. Keyboard warriors are cowards who hide behind anonymity.
Steve Darling’s team stressed that everyone is entitled to their opinion. When is an opinion abuse? He receives many critical emails which he categorises as fine. They keep most of the posts. There is the odd comment which, to use their phraseology, is non-family friendly. He can cope with “bellend” or “you sad old man”. Their view is that social media is an extremely negative space. It is only a problem if it is seriously declamatory.
Of course, both our MPs are always prepared to listen to honest criticism. We do not live in Russia or North Korea, but sometimes the abuse could never be described as objective criticism.
Sadly, it is not only MPs who suffer this nonsense. Swithin Long, the leader of the Liberal Democrats on Torbay Council, told me he has received offensive homophobic abuse online as well as AI-doctored memes with his face.
Other councillors have been the victims of online bullying, including “wanted” posters with their faces on. As a result, some councillors are not standing at the next election, another example of abuse leading to losing local politicians.
Slander and libel have to be tolerated by many councillors. Councils will not fund civil cases which are seen as a personal matter and not related to their duties. This means that many of the online bullies get away with appalling behaviour.
The police are taking action. When criminal behaviour is involved, they have developed Operation Ford to protect councillors and Operation Bridger for MPs. This includes their staff, their offices and their homes. The police have a dedicated team who can also offer advice. Operation Ford has dealt with 391 allegations of serious abuse against councillors and Bridger, 27 in a year against MPs. Looking at these cases, the police can see whether the abuse is a one-off or part of a trend. Is the abuser fixated on his victim?
Even council staff, such as planning officers, receive abuse for simply doing their job.
All our local politicians are keen to stress that they accept criticism. None are “snowflakes”.
I do not have an answer, but I am concerned about anonymity. Some of these trolls hide behind bizarre false names. In Russia or North Korea, anonymity is important where criticism of the government can lead to “accidentally” falling out of the top floor of a tower block, but there is rarely any need to be anonymous in this country. No newspaper here would publish an anonymous letter unless there was a good reason, such as a whistleblower. They would still know the writer’s identity.
We all benefit from living in a free society where anyone can openly express their politics. As Voltaire didn’t quite say, “I disapprove of what you say but I’ll defend to the death your right to say it”. Abuse risks not only losing good politicians but losing our democracy.