Labour And Tory MPs Say Social Media Abuse Is Stopping Women From Standing For Parliament

Attacks on social media are one of the main challenges facing women who are looking to stand for Parliament, Labour and Conservative MPs have warned.

Labour MP Julie Elliott outlined the difficulties of preparing people for the impact the public role will have on them, their family and staff, while Maria Miller, the Conservative former chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, said that it is “so important” that “we tackle any barriers that women face in becoming members of Parliament”. 

Elliot, who has been the MP for Sunderland Central since 2010, said that the issues present themselves while being selected, but then also one that continues when they get to Westminster. Elliott, who was selected in 2008, two years before she arrived in Parliament, thinks that the growth in social media has made the early stages of the process far more public. 

Previously, selections and the early days of candidacy had not been as centred in the public eye, but that changed with the focus on an online presence as a campaign tool. 

“Now [...] when a candidate launches or puts their application in it’s all over social media, you’ve put your videos out there, so in that sense it’s much more public. 

“In some ways that’s harder because you’re putting yourself out there and you’re putting yourself on the line when you seek selection. 

“You were doing that almost in a private forum before, whereas now, it’s completely out there.” 

Elliot said that although it happens to MPs of all genders and all parties, she feels women are disproportionately affected.

“That‘s very challenging to deal with, especially if you’ve never been a public figure,” she added. 

Miller, who was first elected as an MP almost two decades ago, agreed: “I think with the advent