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Intimidation in public life

Following the 2017 General Election, the Prime Minster asked the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CPSL) to conduct a short review of the issue of intimidation experienced by Parliamentary candidates.

Candidates from all parties reported verbal abuse, graffiti and even death threats during the 2017 campaign, some saying that it was the worst they could remember.

The CSPL report included over 30 recommendations. These were targeted at social media companies, political parties, the media and all those in public life.

One of the recommendations was that the Government should consult on a new crime in electoral law of intimidating candidates during an election period.

The Government consulted on the introduction on a new offence of intimidating candidates and party campaigners during an election in July 2018. The Government also consulted on extending the provisions for imprints to be displayed on digital campaign material.

You may also be interested in the Library Insight, Intimidation of political candidates: Review and recommendations