Online Safety Act 2023: Online Hate and Racism

Baroness Butler-Sloss Excerpts

Wednesday 5th November 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

I thank my noble friend for the question and for making a very important point. This is a societal problem, and it requires societal solutions. From a government perspective, this is something that reaches across government. While the Online Safety Act is a DCMS instrument and Ofcom is responsible for enforcing it, the Government have made very clear our expectations of Ofcom in producing that enforcement regime.

At the same time, when we see more traditional forms of hate, we will not be afraid to act. That is why, for instance, in the wake of the terrible attack at the Heaton Park synagogue on Yom Kippur, the Prime Minister said that we must, as a country,

“come together and wrap our arms around”

the Jewish community. Personally, I very much welcome that. It is the spirit that we as a whole society need to act in tackling hate and providing reassurance to frightened communities. That is why we will not rest there. In the Crime and Policing Bill, which starts Committee on Monday, after Recess—I look forward to seeing noble Lords there—we will be introducing new public order measures that protect people and communities from egregious protest.

[Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)]

My Lords, a friend of mine in the other place resigned from being an MP because her daughter was threatened with being killed. Do the Government think they are doing enough to look after MPs?

[Lord Katz (Lab)]

The noble and learned Baroness raises a really important point. We know from the Speaker’s Conference that the security of MPs, and indeed candidates and other representatives both running for and elected to office, is a concern. Concern about that is at an all-time high. Among MPs who have experienced abusive language and insults, 93% have experienced this online. The Local Government Association’s latest survey found that 52% of councillors have had untrue or misleading information spread about them, and 64% of councillors have experienced abuse online. That is why, in the Crime and Policing Bill, public officeholders, including MPs, Peers and local councillors, will be better protected from harassment and intimidation in terms of restricting protests outside their houses.