A Gateshead councillor is calling for an end to a 'culture war' marring politics after a death threat sent to her and two fellow councillors on social media. Liberal Democrat Dawn Welsh, who represents Low Fell on Gateshead Council, said the threatening message was posted on the Lib Dems' Low Fell focus group Facebook page on the night of May 10.
Coun Welsh said the message was 'essentially to burn our houses down, so that's a death threat to five adults and two children'. She immediately called the police, who treated it as a priority. The police said the individual was quickly identified and spoken with, and received a caution and an out-of-court disposal.
‘Toxic’ political discourse
Coun Welsh said: 'I was undecided whether to raise this issue or just let it lie, but what I am seeing and what I have seen in recent months is an escalation of toxicity in social media and the way people are behaving at this moment in time.' She added: 'This culture war has to stop; it does nothing for our communities at all.'
The Local Government Association's 'Debate not Hate' report in May 2025 found that out of 1,861 councillors, 73% felt personally at risk in their roles, 72% reported abuse or intimidation, and 25% experienced a threat or violence of death against themselves or someone close to them over 2024/25.
Call for accountability from tech giants
Coun Welsh has called on tech giants like Facebook to be made to 'clean up their act' and be held accountable for the discourse on their platforms. She also noted incidents in neighbouring Newcastle City Council, where Labour election candidate Stephen Barry-Stanners' home was vandalised with graffiti, and former councillor Juna Sathaiun's family were pelted with eggs after she lost her seat.
When asked if the threat made her question her future in public life, Coun Welsh said: 'No, absolutely not. Anyone who knows me would know that would be a futile conversation to have. It has made me all the more resolute to stand up for the residents of my community and right from wrong.'
Safety concerns for councillors
She added: 'We are just members of our communities who have been elected to represent the places we live. To be able to do that effectively, we do have to be able to engage with our communities, we need to be able to hold ward surgeries without fear, we need to be able to meet residents without fear, but it's getting to the stage where it is a real concern for every elected member with regard to their own personal safety.'
Coun Welsh said she is working with police and Gateshead Council on security measures, but stressed: 'This should not be happening.'
