Former Newcastle city council leader Nick Forbes has urged the Government to take immediate action against what he describes as 'rapidly escalating levels of abuse and intimidation' targeting local politicians. Speaking in the House of Lords, Lord Forbes highlighted the serious impact of physical and online attacks on councillors' ability to serve their communities and their willingness to stand for election.
Shocking cases from Tyneside
Lord Forbes pointed to two 'absolutely shocking' recent incidents from the region. In April, Newcastle Labour election candidate Stephen Barry-Stanners' home was vandalised with graffiti reading 'Peedo Scum' and 'Peedo live here'. Additionally, former Blakelaw councillor Juna Sathian's family were terrified when their home was pelted with eggs days after she lost her seat in the May 7 elections.
The senior Labour figure also referenced severe cases where councillors had been seriously injured in violent assaults, had their cars firebombed, or received death threats. He noted that such abuse disproportionately deters women, younger people, ethnic minorities, LGBT candidates, and those with caring responsibilities from entering local politics.
Proposed solutions
Lord Forbes, who led Newcastle City Council from 2011 to 2022, called for the creation of a 'national councillor safety co-ordination unit'. He urged the Government to issue new guidance to police and the Crown Prosecution Service to 'lower the practical threshold for action against intimidation around elections, so that swift and early intervention can prevent escalation'.
He also demanded stronger online protections, enhanced security at public meetings, and confidential mental health and trauma support for councillors, including a 24/7 helpline. 'We need to act now to make policing consistent, online platforms accountable, public meetings safe and support for those affected accessible. Local democracy should be a calling, not a hazard. Let us make it safe to serve,' he said.
Government response
Baroness Taylor, the Lords Minister for Housing and Local Government, described the examples of abuse as 'blood-curdling and chilling'. She confirmed that the Government is reforming the local government standards and conduct framework to strengthen ethical standards and ensure councils can deal with misconduct swiftly and transparently.
The former Stevenage Council leader, who has herself suffered constant social media abuse, stated that ministers are 'committed to doing all we can to prevent abusive, intimidatory and threatening behaviours'. She added: 'For democracy to thrive, we need to make sure that we attract the widest range of people to seek to serve their communities. They should be able to do so without fear of intimidation or abuse. This is a shared responsibility that we must all embrace.'
