Almost all MPs say they've faced abuse, as report warns current threat level 'weakening democracy'

Almost all MPs say they've faced abuse in the job, as a report led by the Speaker of the House of Commons says the current threat level is "stifling debate and weakening democracy."

After increased threats to candidates during the 2024 general election, Parliament launched the 'Speaker's Conference', comprised of a group of MP's looking specifically at the issue of safety.

In an interim report published on Monday, the group said "threats and abuse are dissuading candidates from standing and making it harder for MPs and candidates to engage with the public."

A survey of MPs and their staff as part of the report found that 96% of MPs and 69% of staff who participated said they've experienced one or more forms of abuse in the role.

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Almost a fifth of the MPs even said they've hesitated about debating or voting on an issue because of the abuse they expected to receive. And a third said they'd considered not-standing for re-election, while one in six said they'd considered quitting.

The report says the government need to update electoral law in order to better protect candidates.

One of the most significant recommendations is a call for a specific part of the law that says it's illegal to make false statements about a candidate's character or conduct, to be better enforced and also updated to keep up with AI and deepfakes.

The report also recommends ID and address checks are brought in for all candidates, home addresses are removed from the nomination process for candidates, and more stringent rules are brought in to protect elections from candidates who want to mislead people or undermine the electoral process.

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The group of MPs warn the level of abuse and threats faced by parliamentarians has worsened over the last decade, and "could get worse."

The murders of MPs Jo Cox in 2016 and Sir David Amess in 2021 shook Westminster, sparking a whole new debate about the safety of our elected representatives.

During the 2024 election, many candidates from all parties said they faced levels of abuse never seen before. For many Labour MPs, the threats they faced were focused around the war in Gaza.

Labour MP Jess Phillips was heckled and booed as she gave her victory speech at her election count.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage also had a milkshake thrown at him on the campaign trail in Clacton.

Many Labour MPs also saw a spike in threats at the beginning of the year after the government came under fire for its response to the grooming gangs scandal.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the House of Commons and Chair of the Speaker’s Conference, said: “Participating in free and fair democratic processes – as a candidate or a Member of Parliament - is a privilege, and we expect that to come with robust political discourse and debate.

But abuse, threats and intimidation should never be part of this job. It threatens the health of our democracy, and forces people to choose between the public good and their own safety and wellbeing."

The Speaker will now draw up a code of conduct with all the parties represented in Parliament, to set guidelines for behaviour and language when campaigning.

The report warned any further increase in security to protect MPs "would lead to a fundamental and undesirable change in the way MPs carry out their roles and engage with their constituents."

Instead, it says "the focus must instead be on encouraging appropriate uptake and effective delivery of existing measures... and reducing the level of threat posed to MPs and candidates."

The previous government announced a £31 million package to bolster protections for MPs, including providing elected politicians with a dedicated police contact to liaise with over safety issues.

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