Stapleford Town Council Full Council voted unanimously to pass a motion committing to challenge the normalisation of abuse against councillors and uphold exemplary standards of public and political debate at their meeting on Monday 25th September.
The vulnerability of elected representatives has been at the forefront of the political sphere in recent years with high profile incidents like the murders of Jo Cox MP and Sir David Amess MP.
The most recent Local Government Association Councillor Census revealed 7 in 10 councillors reported experiencing abuse and intimidation within the last 12 months and one in 10 experienced abuse frequently.
At the meeting, after discussing some of their own personal experiences, councillors agreed to work together to set an example of healthy debate and denounced abusive or threatening behaviour from anyone within the community on social media and in-person.
The council also pledged to support the LGA’s Debate not Hate campaign to remind everyone that while democracy thrives on good, frank discussions these should never turn into personal abuse.
In addition, the council resolved to:
• Use the LGA template letter to write to the local Member of Parliament to ask them to support the campaign
• Use the LGA template letter to write to the Government to ask them to work with the LGA to develop and implement a plan to address abuse and intimidation of politicians
• Regularly review the support available to councillors in relation to abuse and intimidation and councillor safety
• Work with the local police to ensure there is a clear and joined-up mechanism for reporting threats and other concerns about the safety of councillors and their families
• Take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of councillors and officers.
The motion was presented by Independent Councillor Richard MacRae and seconded by Independent Councillor Donna MacRae.
Independent Councillor Richard MacRae 