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Winchester councillors’ statement of support for Debate Not Hate

Political leaders from Winchester City Council have released a joint statement in support of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) Debate Not Hate campaign.

The campaign was created by the LGA in response to the volume of evidence of abuse, intimidation, and aggression directed at councillors and its impact, including extreme incidents such as the murder of Jo Cox MP and Sir David Amess MP.

An open survey sent to candidates, councillors and officers who have witnessed abuse of councillors revealed that 88 per cent of respondents said they had experienced abuse and/or intimidation, directed at them personally in relation to their role as a councillor or because they were a political candidate.  

The majority of the abuse was received via social media (73%) with 64% of respondents also having been abused in person. 

Winchester City Council agreed to support the campaign at a Council meeting in January this year and join a list of several other councils across the country who are backing the campaign.

Debate Not Hate - Winchester political party leaders pictured in July 2023
L-R: Cllr Malcolm Wallace, Cllr Martin Tod, Cllr Caroline Horrill 

The statement, which has been co-signed by Cllr Martin Tod, Leader of Winchester City Council and the Liberal Democrat Group, Cllr Caroline Horrill, Leader of the Conservative Group and Cllr Malcolm Wallace, Leader of the Green Party, reads:

“We’re united in our support for democratic and healthy debate. Debate and disagreeing with one another is a healthy part of democracy – something that should be preserved and protected. However, hate, abuse and intimidation crosses the line.

“As councillors, we are supporting the Local Government Association’s ‘debate not hate’ campaign. We share concerns across the country about increasing levels of abuse and intimidation in public life, preventing elected members from representing the communities they serve, and deterring individuals from standing for election.

“As councillors, we champion that local government and its decision-making should be open and transparent and open to scrutiny; residents who are unhappy with decisions we make have every right to have their voice heard. It is a commitment of this council to Listen Better. We want to hear all voices.

“We will continue to encourage healthy debate and discussion and we will challenge intimidation and abuse.”

The council has also put in place measures to support its councillors alongside a commitment to regularly reviewing support available it’ll also work with the local police to ensure there is clear and joined up process for reporting threats or other safety concerns, and provide access to a support programme, information help line and online wellbeing resources.

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