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[Miles Quaritch]

Theresa May has ordered an investigation into intimidation experienced by candidates during the last election after a barrage of complaints by MPs about death threats and harassment.

Some MPs are demanding an end to anonymity online and calling for a new code of conduct for members of political parties, which will be considered by the watchdog as it prepares recommendations for No 10.

May’s announcement came as MPs debated the abuse they suffered in real life and on social media. Many MPs have already moved to improve their security since Labour’s Jo Cox was murdered by a rightwing extremist in 2015, but a large number have complained of a new level of harassment in the run-up to the 8 June vote.

Simon Hart, the Conservative MP who called the debate, said the party’s whips office had been dealing with “at least three credible threats to colleagues every week, including death threats, criminal damage, sexism, racism, homophobia, antisemitism and general thuggishness around and after the election”.

He said he considered elections to be a few weeks of “robust banter followed by a shake of the hand and a pint in the pub” when first elected in 2010, but the latest contest was characterised by “swastikas on election boards, offensive slogans and language on posters”.

Another powerful intervention came from Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, who said she receives racist abuse, including use of the N-word, “over and over again” every day – both online and offline.

“We are talking about mindless abuse and in my case the mindless abuse has been characteristically racist and sexist,” she said. “And just to outline I’ve had death threats, I’ve had people tweeting that I should be hung if ‘they could find a tree big enough to take the fat bitch’s weight’.

“There was an EDL-affiliated Twitter account BurnDianeAbbott, I’ve had rape threats, described as a pathetic, useless, fat, black, piece of shit, ugly, fat, black bitch.”

Some MPs vented their anger at social media companies for failing to stop aggressive and threatening language. David Jones, a former Conservative cabinet minister, said: “Logging on to Twitter is like wading through sewage; it is a deeply unpleasant experience.”

“If you try to make a complaint to Twitter you get completely ignored... we are seeing this anarchic media that is causing misery to people – not least to people in this house,” he said.

https://www.theguardian.com/politic...timidation-experienced-by-mps-during-election

A look at some of the things some MPs have to deal with...

https://www.theguardian.com/politic...e-racist-misogynistic-abuse-parliament-debate

Some of this is a bit rich when you consider how much free reign the Daily Mail, The Sun, etc have in abusing and terrorising people, but then you look at the kinds of things Diane Abbott (who I don't particularly have much love for) has to deal with on an almost daily basis and it does seem an inquiry might be a good idea.

I did chuckle at the comment about removing anonymity from the internet.

 

[Muppet of a Man]

Seriously, fuck Twitter and Facebook. They are doing far more damage worldwide at this point than good.

 

[Ovek]

I bet this get a better inquiry than the Grenfell tower one.

 

[hodgy100]

I've been saying for ages that the UK's and us need to lean on social media companies to moderate their websites better.

 

[Daffy Duck]

This is going to be parlty driven by her hard on for curbing the internet.

 

[Lime]

This will just be used as an excuse to surveil and control the population even more than the government is already doing

 

[It's Reyn Time!]

It's almost as if pushing an Us vs Them agenda through every aspect of the media has somehow soured people on each other?

 

[Uhyve]

Some MPs are demanding an end to anonymity online and calling for a new code of conduct for members of political parties

What a coincidence, the thing she's been after for ages.

 

[EdwardTivrusky]

This is going to be party driven by her hard on for curbing the internet.

Yep, she's been desperate for more surveillance of the internet for years and this is how she'll go about increasing the incline on the slippery slope. I wonder how much of a surge in popularity in the polls she'll get from this?

 

[WhatNXt]

I bet this get a better inquiry than the Grenfell tower one.

Exactly. If MPs lived in tower blocks like Greenwell, maybe it would get a proper look in.

"End anonymity online"

Good luck with that Theresa. Tories out.

 

[WhatNXt]

It's almost as if pushing an Us vs Them agenda through every aspect of the media has somehow soured people on each other?

Our political discourse has started to mirror the more distasteful aspects of the US equivalent. The parties put out the message that if they don't win, if their opponents win, it's the end of the world and Britain as people generally understand it. Politics is tribal, and made worse by people feeling like their life depends on it. It's gotten that way though because we've had decades of people being generally apathetic. We've reached this cross roads in so many ways, constitutionally, in our relations with the rest of the world, at a point of crisis in our NHS - so people understandably feel quite strongly.

And in that context we have the Daily Mail, its opposites, people like Farage and Katie Hopkins.

An inquiry is a waste of time. The first rule of the Internet should be: don't feed the trolls. Instead they should be looking at their close relationships with the media and what partisan hysteria is doing to mental health and the public good.

 

[Earthpainting]

Some Conservatives attributed higher levels of intimidation than normal to supporters of the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, while claiming he has not done enough to discourage name-calling and threats by his followers.

Obviously. He must have been wearing one of his aggression-inspiring ties again.

 

[Mr. Sam]

Corbyn himself is a very gentle, friendly, and personable man. However, there are those within his core supporters that aren't only endlessly nasty to Conservatives, but also to journalists (Laura Kuennsberg in particular), and to anti-Corbyn Labour MPs like Yvette Cooper. Corbyn has a way of condemning "all" abuse, but it would probably be more effective if he were more specific.

Of course, Corbynistas aren't the sole culprits - they weren't the ones sending Diane Abbott rape threats, and lest we forget that an MP was murdered in the street by a white nationalist barely a year ago.

Something absolutely does have to change.

 

[Omikaru]

What a coincidence, the thing she's been after for ages.

And she will never get it. Internet censorship and an end to anonymity won't stop this problem; quite frankly it will just make it far, far worse.

And anyway, while social media discourse is pretty grim, I think if the gutter press hadn't poisoned the well of discourse in this country for the last 40 years (at least) it might not have gotten this bad in the first place.

 

[Meadows]

Corbynistas and brexiteers are the principle proprietors of this kind of shit. The Brexit stuff also spills over into pro-Trump memes etc. I'm 99% sure most of it is Russian troll farms.

edit: Just so I'm clear, I don't think Corbyn has any impact on this happening, it's just that his support is mainly tech-savvy younger voters, who might be more likely to utilise these kinds of tactics.

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

Corbyn himself is a very gentle, friendly, and personable man. However, there are those within his core supporters that aren't only endlessly nasty to Conservatives, but also to journalists (Laura Kuennsberg in particular), and to anti-Corbyn Labour MPs like Yvette Cooper. Corbyn has a way of condemning "all" abuse, but it would probably be more effective if he were more specific.

Of course, Corbynistas aren't the sole culprits - they weren't the ones sending Diane Abbott rape threats, and lest we forget that an MP was murdered in the street by a white nationalist barely a year ago.

Something absolutely does have to change.

The thing about trying to pin it on Corbyn is that he was the direct victim of a smear campaign by right-wing xenophobic racist tabloid rags. If the tories are uncomfortable with it then they can start right there. But they won't because they benefit from it.

 

[Daffy Duck]

The thing about trying to pin it on Corbyn is that he was the direct victim of a smear campaign by right-wing xenophobic racist tabloid rags. If the tories are uncomfortable with it then they can start right there. But they won't because they benefit from it.

That OK though because it's the tory rags, don't even think about doing it online though, as Queen May will take away your rights.

 

[JonnyDBrit]

I feel... mixed about this.

At one level, I absolutely understand the need for a change. It's become increasingly easy, and unfortunately fashionable, to direct abuse at MPs via the internet. It's damn well easy, and a shit storm can be whipped up faster than anyone can expect.

But I do not trust this government to take any recommendation from this inquiry and act on it in a fashion that:
A) Actually understands how the internet works
B) Does not fundamentally undermine the security of a person on the off chance the government wants to investigate them someday

Because that's been a consistent theme every time they've put forward such legislation. Not to mention their strange fixation with messing with people's porn...

 

[Mr. Sam]

It doesn't help that both Theresa May and Amber Rudd have failed to come across as at all technologically literate. I can see why people wouldn't trust them to act on recommendations in an appropriate way. "People who know the necessary hashtags" indeed.

The thing about trying to pin it on Corbyn is that he was the direct victim of a smear campaign by right-wing xenophobic racist tabloid rags. If the tories are uncomfortable with it then they can start right there. But they won't because they benefit from it.

I mean, yeah, fine, but it doesn't absolve people who are, say, sending death threats to Tory MPs.

 

[hodgy100]

Something needs to be done but this is a very thin line to tread.

 

[hohoXD123]

Corbyn himself is a very gentle, friendly, and personable man. However, there are those within his core supporters that aren't only endlessly nasty to Conservatives, but also to journalists (Laura Kuennsberg in particular), and to anti-Corbyn Labour MPs like Yvette Cooper. Corbyn has a way of condemning "all" abuse, but it would probably be more effective if he were more specific.

Of course, Corbynistas aren't the sole culprits - they weren't the ones sending Diane Abbott rape threats, and lest we forget that an MP was murdered in the street by a white nationalist barely a year ago.

Something absolutely does have to change.

What do you mean more specific? He has denounced these trolls on multiple occasions during conferences, interviews and rallies. What do you want him to specifically say?

Seriously, fuck Twitter and Facebook. They are doing far more damage worldwide at this point than good.

It's easy to forget the good things they can bring when we see this shit, but social media can be a headache for oppressive regimes. They allow people to communicate and organise outside the narrative put forth by governments and some go to great lengths to shut them down as a result, as seen in Turkey. They allow the younger generation to mobilise, such as in the UK elections this year. They also allow charitable causes to reach a far wider audience. There is a lot of misinformation and horrible messages, that comes with the platform and there needs to be better moderation of that, but overall I'd say it's still a good force.

 

[SuperBowser]

The way this government functions, there really isn't much point to an inquiry. They will cherry pick,misinterpret and decontextualise any recommendation given to suit their own needs.

 

[ReplacementPelican]

Some Conservatives attributed higher levels of intimidation than normal to supporters of the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, while claiming he has not done enough to discourage name-calling and threats by his followers.

I agree, that Corbyn-orchestrated hate-orgy against Diane Abbot was just awful. He's surely to blame for all of this.

Things I think we should also hold Corbyn to account for:
Tory MP using the 'n-word'
Boris Johnson referring to black people are 'piccaninnies' and 'watermelon smiles.'
Tory Cabinet Minister Oliver Letwin saying that black people have 'bad moral attitudes' and that social help for them will be spent on ”the disco and drugs trade."
Tory exploitation of fear-based politics.
The entire 1964 Birmingham By-election
Hamas
Pineapple on pizza.

Incomplete list inbound:

• February 2009: Bolton councillor Bob Allen posted a picture of a gorilla alongside a critical comment about an Asian Labour councillor on a blog. He apologised, the party investigated, but it is not known if he was disciplined. He still appears to be a councillor.
• March 2009: Leicestershire councillor Robert Fraser said that Romanians would ”stick a knife in you as soon as look at you." And: ”Some of these European ones, they make the Irish look like complete amateurs and I would dread, I would dread, to see them in Groby." The Tories sent him on diversity training, but he stood again for them.
• November 2009: MP for Spelthorne David Wilshire said the exposé of MPs' expenses left them treated like Jews in nazi Germany: ”Branding a whole group of people as undesirables led to Hitler's gas chambers." David Cameron asked him to say sorry.
• January 2010: Smith Benson, councillor for Colne, complained that there were ”too many Pakis" in his town. Council leader Tony Beckett refused to discipline him and said: ”I think for the Labour Party to say he should be sacked for making a sweeping statement is a bit strong."
• August 2011: Tory Dover councillor Bob Frost describes rioters as ”jungle bunnies." He lost his teaching job but the Tories only suspended him for two months. In 2014, he referred to the prospective Middle Eastern buyers of Dover port as ”sons of camel drivers." No action was taken.
• January 2013: Enfield Tory councillor Chris Joannides compares Muslim children to black bin bags in a Facebook post.
• April 2014: Barnet councillor Tom Davey said online that it might be easier to find a job if he were ”a black female wheelchair-bound amputee who is sexually attracted to other women." He was not disciplined by the party.
• October 2014: Maidenhead councillor Alan Mellins complained about Travellers and said the solution was to ”execute them." He said sorry and resigned but it's not clear if the party ever disciplined him.
• May 2014: Tory Coulsdon activist Stephen Lees tweets: ”Every single Muslim should be expelled from this country — not deported — expelled, and every mosque demolished."
• August 2014: UCL Conservative Society member reportedly comments: ”Jews own everything, we all know it's true. I wish I was Jewish, but my nose isn't long enough." There is no evidence that the Conservative Party ever investigated.
• April 2015: A Tory council candidate in Luton, David Coulter, describes Travellers as ”pikies" and ”thieving troublemakers." He was suspended.
• May 2015: Tory councillor for Leicestershire Bob Fahey refers to a fellow councillor as a ”chink." There is no record of any disciplinary action and he apparently remains a councillor.

I'm glad the Tories are finally doing something now people are being mean to them. Mired in hypocrisy.

 

[Uzzy]

I agree, that Corbyn-orchestrated hate-orgy against Diane Abbot was just awful. He's surely to blame for all of this.

He also deviously whispered into the ear of that good, honest man Paul Dacre, and made him print stuff like this.

 

[PJV3]

There is a huge divide politically in the country and the fault lines are numerous, the inquiry is a waste of time.

 

[Wrestlemania]

Poor Simon Hart, having to put up with offensive language on his campaign posters. Clearly this is an awful hate campaign orchestrated against him by the hard left and not at all a consequence of his appalling voting record.

 

[Audioboxer]

Tories going to exploit situations like this for their own control/authoritarian gain.

Issues on FB/Twitter/YT should be handled by those billion dollar companies cleaning their own house and passing on extreme content to the authorities. If the Government wants to put pressure on them fine, but if the Government tries to start exploiting the situation to go after all of its own people that can take a hike. This isn't condoning some of what happens to people but putting the blame where it lies and that is on the companies not doing enough not the population at larges privacy and wellbeing.

The investigatory powers bill already has enough questionable issues.

Poor Simon Hart, having to put up with offensive language on his campaign posters. Clearly this is an awful hate campaign orchestrated against him by the hard left and not at all a consequence of his appalling voting record.

It's not even the worst record. Look up the Moggster. While it's vandalism and if it could be traced/caught it rightly would end up with fines, it's less personal than directly sending shit to people on twitter/in emails. Overall, people should do things above board, like vote, send respectful enough emails, and so on. Political satire and condemnation if it ends up as "harmless" memes and drawing cocks on billboards is still a ways away from direct threats/suggestions of violence and targeting things like race. The later cannot be supported no matter how upset or angry the people are.