Reforms sought by PM to beat intimidation of political candidates
THERESA MAY will warn Britain risks accepting a permanent toxifying of public debate as she makes the case for reforms to tackle intimidation of parliamentary candidates.
In a speech this week to mark the centenary of women’s right to vote, the Prime Minister will urge all politicians to take a stand for “decency, tolerance and respect”.
She will say that no one should have to suffer threats and bullying because they have “dared to express a political opinion”. After a parliamentary inquiry that followed last year’s General Election, Mrs May will open a consultation on a new offence in electoral law of intimidation of candidates and their campaigners.
In her speech, she will say it is a cause of “deep concern” that the inquiry report found women, ethnic-minority and gay candidates were disproportionately targeted in terms of “scale, intensity and vitriol” of the abuse they received.
She will say: “It is becoming harder and harder to conduct any political discussion, on any issue, without it descending into tribalism and rancour. British democracy has always been robust and oppositional but a line is crossed when disagreement mutates into intimidation.
“It is time we asked ourselves seriously whether we really want it to be like this. Whether we are prepared to accept a permanent coarsening and toxifying of our public debate or whether, together, we will take a stand for decency, tolerance and respect.”
Last week, the Labour leader of Haringey council Claire Kober quit over “sexism” and “bullying” by hard-left supporters of Jeremy Corbyn and Tory MP Jacob ReesMogg was pushed and jostled at a student debate in Bristol.