Public Representatives: Online Abuse

Lord Cormack Excerpts
Wednesday 16th June 2021

(2 years, 10 months ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran (Con)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The noble Baroness is right to raise the unacceptable abuse that Nick Watt received the other day. I highlight that we have just published our National Action Plan for the Safety of Journalists and a call for evidence is live at the moment. I encourage your Lordships to contribute to that as appropriate.

Lord Cormack Portrait Lord Cormack (Con)
- Hansard - -

My Lords, as we remember a very brave and remarkable woman, should we not also take on board the fact that public life has been further coarsened and cheapened since her death by the indiscriminate use of social media? Should we not take steps to outlaw anonymous contributions to social media?

Baroness Barran Portrait Baroness Barran (Con)
- Hansard - - - Excerpts

The Government are clear that abuse is unacceptable, whether anonymous or not. Our intention is to try to address that.