Committee publication · Report · 2 June 2025 · HC 570
1st Report – Speaker’s Conference on the security of MPs, candidates and elections
From: Speaker's Conference (2024)
Inquiry: Speaker’s Conference on the security of candidates, MPs and elections
Government response deadline: 2 August 2025
Summary
The Speaker's Conference, established October 2024, investigated threats against UK parliamentary candidates and MPs following the 2024 General Election. This first report finds abuse and intimidation are stifling democracy, dissuading candidates from standing and forcing MPs to self-censor. Current threats represent a significant shift from recent history, exacerbated by social media and public attitudes. The Conference recommends electoral law reform, a code of conduct for candidates, and improved police coordination.
Key findings
- Over half of 2024 candidates reported being followed, threatened, assaulted, or having property damaged; verbal abuse via email, social media and in-person is widespread.
- 49% of surveyed MPs report abuse causing anxiety/depression; 52% feel unsafe. One-in-three have considered not standing for re-election; one-in-six considered resigning from office.
- Current electoral law is unfit for purpose regarding candidate protection; home addresses should not be published, identities verified, polling stations protected, and disinformation addressed.
- A code of conduct for all candidates and parties is necessary; 80% of surveyed MPs support this if parties can agree principles; Speaker will work with parties and Electoral Commission to develop it.
- Police response was inconsistent across regions; new Force Elected Official Advisers (FEOAs) now in place. Social media platforms' design and policies are drivers of abuse; online activity increasingly spills into offline incidents.
Recommendations
- Government should undertake a full review of electoral law to ensure no home addresses are published, candidates' identities are properly verified, polling stations are protected, and disinformation fuelling abuse is addressed.
- A code of conduct for all candidates, MPs and parties should be developed by the Speaker working with parties and the Electoral Commission, defining collectively agreed principles for campaign behaviour, to be in place for the next general election.
- Leadership of all parties represented in Parliament and the Electoral Commission should engage constructively with the Speaker to develop and agree the code of conduct.
- Parties must ensure all candidates and agents know how to report threats to external agencies and offer internal avenues for raising abuse and intimidation issues, without compulsion to share details.
- The immediate transfer of private security capacity from Parliamentary Security Department to Home Office should be established as default for future general elections, effective from dissolution.
- Government should monitor and record use of Disqualification Orders under Elections Act 2022, review effectiveness, and report to Parliament by Written Ministerial Statement and to Speaker's Committee on Electoral Commission within six months of next election.
- Parties have a duty of care to candidates during elections and should support them with appropriate guidance and reporting mechanisms proportionate to party size and resources.
Tone
CriticalTopics
political-violenceelectoral-lawcandidate-safetysocial-mediapolice-resources
Key actors
Speaker's Conference (2024), Sir Lindsay Hoyle (Speaker, Chair), Parliamentary Security Department (PSD), Home Office, Electoral Commission, National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC), Operation Bridger, Jo Cox Foundation
Notable line
“… the worst cases, MPs have come to physical and fatal harm. The murders of Jo Cox MP and Sir David Amess MP weigh heavily on our minds as we undertake this inquiry.”
Key Quotes
“"Over the last four to eight years, we have just seen a change in society in terms of how debate and politics are conducted. It has veered towards one end of the spectrum: something more direct, attacking, that does not expect anybody to fire back, or for justice to follow, is now an expectation".”
“… the abuse, intimidation and attacks that have already resulted in the murders of two of our colleagues, Jo Cox MP and Sir David Amess MP, threaten the health of our democracy.”
“These threats are not part of the job of being an MP. They are stifling debate and weakening democracy by dissuading candidates from standing, making it harder for MPs and candidates to engage with the public …”
“"the coarse and unforgiving nature of much of our political discourse may contribute to an environment in which outright abusive, threatening, and intimidatory behaviour is increasingly normalised" …”
“The 2024 General Election saw an extremely high turnover of MPs, heightened abuse in many constituencies …”
“… when asked about the psychological impact of the abuse, one in three participating MPs said they have considered not standing for re-election, and one in six have considered resigning from public office.”
“"if younger cohorts maintain these attitudes as they age, the problem of abuse of candidates can become worse."”
“MPs and candidates have a responsibility to lead by example and we must all strive for courtesy and respect in our politics. 37 Q8 [Stephen Massey, Ellie Reeves MP]; Q33 [Elfrede Brambley-Crawshaw]; Q42 [Owen Roberts, Timothy Johnston] 38 Q20 [Jeremy Corbyn MP, Iqbal Mohamed MP] 39 Q9 [Andrew Whyte] …”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗