Speeches by Blackman.

“Clearly, they were out to cause a particular reaction in the voters’ minds, but that also created hostility towards those individuals. If we could eliminate that, it would be very good news, because it is unfair on candidates and probably on the electorate, who are going, “What’s this all about?” While I think it is fa…”

“I think it is fair to say that, internally, within the party, those actions are taken—probably in the Labour party as well—but they will not be publicised. Therefore, you would not have necessarily seen what action was taken, but as a board member of the party, we routinely see the results of disciplinary action and th…”

“We have a process by which, certainly close to general elections, everything that is going out with the party logo on has to be signed off. I am sure that it is a great frustration to candidates—my colleagues are nodding around the room. That is a process to ensure that nothing defamatory would actually be issued. You …”

“I have circulated to colleagues and ex-colleagues the fact that we are having this hearing, and I asked them to send me details of anything that happened. We will compile that and submit it.”

“Personally, the campaign was very much directed in an orderly fashion in my constituency, but I am very well aware that candidates across the country had terrible times. I have to say that, in my experience, from the complaints I have heard, in the main, female candidates experienced terrible misogyny and abuse from va…”

“Without question, social media was much more abusive. Personally, the first thing I do in the morning is go through X, and mute or block anyone that is rude or abusive. I know that colleagues do that but, frankly, I have been doing it for donkey’s years, and I just take it as part of the normal experience that we have …”

“I would also single out, which might be controversial, HOPE not Hate, who produced a booklet of disgraceful slurs, particularly against female candidates in the Conservative party, but Conservative men as well. It was not deliberately aimed at stirring up trouble, but without doubt it had an impact on the abuse that th…”

“There is a difference, as well, between an MP that is standing again and a new candidate coming in. I think there is a marked difference there, particularly in terms of long-standing MPs that were re-standing, compared to, say, a new candidate coming in. I think that is something that has to be looked at as part of thi…”

“Our candidates certainly experienced attack ads, as you rightly said—”

“Clearly, they were out to cause a particular reaction in the voters’ minds, but that also created hostility towards those individuals. If we could eliminate that, it would be very good news, because it is unfair on candidates and probably on the electorate, who are going, “What’s this all about?” While I think it is fa…”

“I think it is fair to say that, internally, within the party, those actions are taken—probably in the Labour party as well—but they will not be publicised. Therefore, you would not have necessarily seen what action was taken, but as a board member of the party, we routinely see the results of disciplinary action and th…”

“We have a process by which, certainly close to general elections, everything that is going out with the party logo on has to be signed off. I am sure that it is a great frustration to candidates—my colleagues are nodding around the room. That is a process to ensure that nothing defamatory would actually be issued. You …”

“I have circulated to colleagues and ex-colleagues the fact that we are having this hearing, and I asked them to send me details of anything that happened. We will compile that and submit it.”

“Personally, the campaign was very much directed in an orderly fashion in my constituency, but I am very well aware that candidates across the country had terrible times. I have to say that, in my experience, from the complaints I have heard, in the main, female candidates experienced terrible misogyny and abuse from va…”

“Without question, social media was much more abusive. Personally, the first thing I do in the morning is go through X, and mute or block anyone that is rude or abusive. I know that colleagues do that but, frankly, I have been doing it for donkey’s years, and I just take it as part of the normal experience that we have …”

“I would also single out, which might be controversial, HOPE not Hate, who produced a booklet of disgraceful slurs, particularly against female candidates in the Conservative party, but Conservative men as well. It was not deliberately aimed at stirring up trouble, but without doubt it had an impact on the abuse that th…”

“There is a difference, as well, between an MP that is standing again and a new candidate coming in. I think there is a marked difference there, particularly in terms of long-standing MPs that were re-standing, compared to, say, a new candidate coming in. I think that is something that has to be looked at as part of thi…”

“I think it has changed. Personally, not in this election but in previous elections, I have been assaulted on the street. You have to take that into account and always think of your security. I for one would never be out and about by myself, and I am sure other candidates have been in the same position. There is a feeli…”

“Our candidates certainly experienced attack ads, as you rightly said—”

“Clearly, they were out to cause a particular reaction in the voters’ minds, but that also created hostility towards those individuals. If we could eliminate that, it would be very good news, because it is unfair on candidates and probably on the electorate, who are going, “What’s this all about?” While I think it is fa…”