Woman MP quits Twitter over abuse
A FEMALE MP subjected to vile online abuse will today quit Twitter in protest.
Wrexham Tory MP Sarah Atherton says it is a “breeding ground for abuse” and has condemned its failure to take action to stop intimidation.
She accuses twitter of giving a platform to “hate” and said she received a wave of online abuse after a rock was thrown through her constituency office window.
Ms Atherton also warns that failure of social media platforms to stop personal attacks is “deterring women from standing for election”.
She said: “Twitter’s inaction has led me to vote with my feet, and I will be coming off Twitter today.” An Army veteran and former district nurse, Ms Atherton became the first
Tory candidate to win Wrexham in 2019.
Her opponents have used twitter to call her “scum”, “vermin” and other obscene insults.the MP argues that the problem is made worse because Twitter allows people to use anonymous accounts.
Atherton said: “Almost all of the worst abuse I have received has come from anonymous users.” She added that if the abuse took place in person “the individual would be arrested”.
Twitter has been invited to comment.