Committee publication · Correspondence · 8 September 2025
Letter, dated 14 July 2025, from the Local Government Association (LGA)
From: Speaker's Conference (2024)
Inquiry: Speaker’s Conference on the security of candidates, MPs and elections
Summary
The Local Government Association writes to support the Speaker's Conference interim report on candidate and MP security. The LGA endorses the report's findings on abuse and intimidation across all levels of government, noting that 7 in 10 councillors experienced abuse in the past year. The organisation calls for consistent application of protections across local and national elected representatives and welcomes recommendations on social media accountability and policing responses.
Key findings
- 64% of councillors report receiving abuse and intimidation online, the most common venue for abuse against local representatives
- Women, LGBT+, disabled, and ethnic minority councillors report disproportionately higher levels of feeling personally at risk and reporting incidents to police
- 55% of survey respondents were unsure about standing at the next local election; for a quarter of those, abuse and intimidation influenced their decision to withdraw
- More than half of councillors report experiencing misinformation about their personal or political conduct, either online or offline
- LGA supports the Speaker's Conference recommendation that protections be applied consistently across all levels of public office, not just Westminster
Tone
SupportiveTopics
Key actors
Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Local Government Association, Cllr Marianne Overton MBE, Baroness Grey-Thompson, Joanna Killian OBE
Notable line
“We are at serious risk of losing dedicated public servants because the climate is just too challenging both in elected office and in running for election.”
Key Quotes
“This landmark report is a vital and timely step forward in recognising and addressing the growing threats that undermine our democratic institutions and the wellbeing of those who serve within them.”
“… seven in 10 councillors said they experienced abuse and intimidation in the last year, a similar proportion said they felt at risk while fulfilling their councillor role”
“… sixty-four per cent of councillors report receiving abuse and intimidation online, making it the most common place for councillors to experience abuse”
“These findings reinforce the urgent need for a cultural shift to challenge the dangerous notion that abuse is simply part of the job.”
“The LGA and our Civility in Public Life Steering Group stand ready to support the implementation of its recommendations.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗