‘I will not tolerate threats and abuse’ - Jarrow MP’s message as police reports are made
The MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East has issued a warning after reporting several incidents to the police.
Kate Osborne, MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East, has revealed that she has reported two “serious incidents” to the police within the last week following a rise in online abuse.
In a social media post, the MP also revealed that officers had contacted her regarding a “different threat”, which she says they are “taking seriously”.
As a result, Ms Osborne has issued a warning that she will take all abuse against her “seriously” and highlighted her history of taking court action against offenders.
Reports to the police
She said: “A note ahead of the local elections, my social media is fairly constantly subject to abuse, ranging from bots, nonsensical comments to misogyny, homophobia and threats.
“Most of these can be ignored as the ridiculous nonsense that they are; however once again a lot of them cannot be ignored, they are serious threats and abuse and they will not be tolerated.
“I have spoken openly in the past about having to take cases as far as court action that resulted in a record for harassment.
“People should be very clear that I will take any and all abuse seriously.
“Last week I once again had to report two different serious incidents to the police, both of which have resulted in action being taken and the police contacted me regarding a different threat that they are taking seriously.
“Having previously had to take cases as far as court action that resulted in a record for harassment, people should be very clear that I will take any and all abuse seriously.
“It is unacceptable and of course not fair on my team who have to deal with it or on constituents that do want to genuinely engage with what I am saying or ask for advice.”
‘Abuse will not be tolerated’
The MP states she welcomes engagement, disagreement and differences of opinion on social media but highlighted that abusive comments will “not be tolerated”.
She added: “People are quick to say things and threaten things online that they would never dare to do in real life and it is not acceptable.
“It is also fuelled by the pushing of hate from the far right, from the othering of people, blaming migrants for all and the political attacks on people for their sexual orientation, faith, religion and race - all of which are a deliberate attempt to sow division and divide us.
“So again this is my page, it is for my engagement with constituents and to talk about what I am doing in Parliament and in Jarrow and Gateshead East, it is not a place to abuse me, or anyone else, or a place to spread lies and misinformation.
“I welcome engagement, questions, discussion and disagreement or differences of opinion - but abuse, aggression, hate and discriminatory comments etc will not be tolerated and I absolutely will block repeat offenders and delete abusive comments.”
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, has previously called for end the normalisation of abuse and intimidation towards MPs and candidates standing for election.
In his Speaker’s Conference report, Sir Lindsay recommended a stronger oversight of social media platforms under the Online Safety Act 2023 - including the introduction of an elections code of practice by Ofcom.