Call for new law to protect MPs from abuse

AMBER Rudd is to look at plans to create new laws to protect people in public life.

The Home Secretary told the Commons last night she would consider any recommendations made by the Committee on Standards in Public Life. She said there was ‘a lot for us to do’, and added one potential solution was additional legislation.

Shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said social media companies should face ‘punitive’ fines for failing to react quickly to material that incites hatred and violence.

She added that mainstream media also has a role to play but warned against fresh legislation, saying there are already laws against abuse which must be ‘properly enforced’.

Miss Abbott said social media has facilitated the volume of abuse. Miss Rudd said the internet is mostly a ‘force for good’ but can be a ‘frightening and toxic place’, with abuse, misogyny and racism.

Former Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman attacked two newspapers over their coverage of Brexit. She accused the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph of being part of a ‘toxic triangle’ of abuse. A number of Tory MPs who rebelled over Brexit have claimed they received abuse after being featured prominently on the papers’ front pages. Miss Rudd said all media must take care with language, but the real issue is with individuals launching attacks online.

A Daily Mail spokesman said: ‘No one has been more outspoken than the Daily Mail in condemning the viciousness of social media, and in particular the threats and abuse directed at politicians of all parties. The Mail itself, its editor, commentators and columnists also regularly receive violent abuse on social media. As a paper with strong, passionate views we have learned to live with it.

‘However we support Amber Rudd and the Government in their efforts to find ways of tackling this menace. What must never happen is that it is used as an excuse to prevent proper and trenchant debate on the great political issues of the day, including Brexit.

‘For the record, all the serious national newspapers, including the pro-Remain Times and Guardian, named the 11 Tory MPs who voted against the Government over Brexit.’