Elected representatives are facing “increasing levels of abuse and intimidation” as one councillor has been forced to report a threatening email to police.
Cllr Kris Brown, Liberal Democrat member for Woolton and Gateacre, said abuse was coming in “thick and fast” and he could no longer stay silent after receiving a malicious email yesterday. An anonymous sender sent a message to Cllr Brown saying he should “leave Liverpool before it is too late for you”.
Cllr Brown, who chairs the Liverpool Council audit committee, said it was “just an example of the level of abuse or insults I have received as an elected representative for the last few years.” He added: “In the latest instance, as with others, this has been reported to the police, but unfortunately I’ve got to the point where I either just try and ignore such abuse and don’t report it because it’s such a bore and common practice.”
READ MORE: DWP will give people with these 70 conditions up to £156 a week
The committee chair, who was first elected four years ago, said he knew he wasn’t alone in facing harassment and abuse. In 2021, Labour councillor Clare McIntyre had to request police protection at a meeting where she was re-selected by the party after repeated threats from online trolls.
In 2018, a Labour Party investigation found that Cllr McIntyre had been subjected to an 'unacceptable level of harassment' after a Facebook row. Cllr Brown added: “Many others have received online bullying or emails and letters of intimidation. This will be happening to our region’s MPs too, but they have the fortunate position of staff and other support mechanisms to help manage it.
“Councillors are at the centre of local democracy in Liverpool. It is a privilege and responsibility to be elected to public office. However, increasing levels of abuse and intimidation in political and public discourse are negatively impacting politicians and democracy at local and national levels.”
Cllr Brown said while people had the right to object and challenge, abuse and intimidation “cross the line into unacceptable behaviour” and deter people from engaging politically. He added: “There is a considerable volume of evidence of the impact of abuse, intimidation, and aggression at a national level, including extreme incidents such as the murder of Jo Cox MP and Sir David Amess MP.
“Until recently I’ve largely stayed silent on the abuse, but it’s coming in thick and fast at the moment not to speak out.”
READ NEXT
Football World Cup fanzone plans to go ahead at South Liverpool cricket club
Commissioner's 'surprise' at having to convince council at scale of change needed
Liverpool at 'emergency planning' level with talk of 'warm banks'
Pictures show state of stalled scheme which should have been major apartment development
Restaurant that 'ignored neighbours' given licence to host karaoke
