Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Alex Burghart and Brandon Lewis

Wednesday 12th September 2018 Commons Chamber

[Alex Burghart (Brentwood and Ongar) (Con)]

2. What assessment he has made of trends in the level of intimidation experienced by people in public life.

[The Minister without Portfolio (Brandon Lewis)]

Intimidation can do real damage to our democracy and has no part to play in healthy debate. The Minister with responsibility for the constitution, my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich North (Chloe Smith), has launched a consultation on a new electoral offence of intimidating candidates and campaigners. I encourage anyone who has experienced this sort of unacceptable intimidation to respond and to take part in that consultation.

[Alex Burghart]

I thank the Minister for his reply. Does he agree that those who seek to interfere with the course of an election through criminal intimidation should face electoral sanction?

[Brandon Lewis]

My hon. Friend makes a good point. He is absolutely right. An electoral offence has a higher tariff. It is right that we are clear that our democracy is precious and important. We must do everything we can to protect robust debate with respect.