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Candidates: Harassment

Question for Prime Minister

UIN 4220, tabled on 11 July 2017

To ask the Prime Minister, if she will ensure that Ministers drawing up plans to tackle abuse of electoral candidates take account of the findings of the All-Party Parliamentary Group Inquiry into Electoral Conduct, published in 2013, and updates to that report.

Answered on

19 July 2017

I have asked the independent Committee on Standards in Public Life to carry out a review of the intimidation experienced by parliamentary candidates, including those who stood to become Members of Parliament at the 2017 General Election.

This review should:

“Examine the nature of the problem and consider whether measures already in place to address such behaviour are sufficient to protect the integrity of public service; and whether such measures are (a) effective, especially given the rise of social media, and (b) enforceable

Produce a report for the Prime Minister, including recommendations for action focused on what could be done in the short- and long-term, and identifying examples of good practice.

The review will recognise the important role of legitimate scrutiny of those standing for public office by the public and the press.”

It will be for the Committee to decide its approach and to gather evidence of abuse; examine the nature of the problem; consider whether the measures already in place to address such behaviour are effective and enforceable and make recommendations for action. I look forward to receiving their findings.

I would encourage the All-Party Parliamentary Group to submit its reports and evidence to the Committee’s review.

Answered by

Prime Minister