Online Abuse Threatens Community Champions in Plymouth

Strategic Insights -

Deputy leader of Plymouth City Council, Cllr Jemima Laing, has spoken out about the relentless online abuse she and other councillors faced during the directly elected mayor campaign. The councillor, who has been on the council for seven years, said the level of abuse was unprecedented and had become extremely personal, with comments about her personal appearance and abilities.

Cllr Laing's experience is not an isolated incident, as councillor Tudor Evans also received daily defamatory attacks, forcing him to report them to the police. The abuse was so severe that it forced Cllr Laing to develop a "thick skin" and made her family worry about her safety. Despite this, she remains committed to public life and has pledged to share her experience with the Debate Not Hate campaign.

The council is now expected to write to the government expressing its concern about the lack of measures to prevent online harassment. The Local Government Association (LGA) is actively working to address online abuse and intimidation faced by councillors and council staff, pushing for stronger measures within the Online Safety Bill.

Key Takeaways:

  • Cllr Jemima Laing experienced unprecedented levels of online abuse during the directly elected mayor campaign, with comments about her personal appearance and abilities.
  • The abuse was so severe that Cllr Laing's family began to worry about her safety, and she reported the incidents to the police.
  • Cllr Laing said that people who make negative comments about councillors online would not know them in person and are preventing good community champions from joining public life.
  • The council is now expected to write to the government expressing its concern about online harassment and lack of measures to prevent it.
  • The Local Government Association (LGA) is actively working to address online abuse and intimidation faced by councillors and council staff.
  • Cllr Laing will use her experience to inform the Debate Not Hate campaign around local government and online abuse.

Statistics:

  • 19% of the electorate turned out at the ballot box to vote against a directly elected mayor for the city.
  • Cllr Jemima Laing has been on the council for 7 years and has experienced unprecedented levels of online abuse.
  • The council is expected to write to the government to express its concern about online harassment.

Sources:

  • "Plymouth's Science Future: Girls Needed for Defence and Marine Jobs"
  • "Reform UK Expels Devon Councillor Ed Hill for Unauthorised Letter"
  • "Plymouth to Remove 112 Grit Bins Following Council Review"
  • "Previously Suspended Devon and Cornwall Police Chief Will Kerr to Retire"