Divide over call to tackle abuse of female Peterborough councillors

The motion was put to the Full Council at its online meeting on Wednesday by Cllr Dr Shabina Qayyum (Labour East) who said she had been the victim of a number of serious threatening and racist online attacks since being elected in May 2019.

However, members were divided when a subsequent amendment looked to broaden the motion to include all political figures, not just women specifically.

Cllr Irene Walsh, cabinet member for communities, in proposing the amendment, altered the wording from: “…in relation to online abuse, bullying and harassment, particularly against female councillors”, to: ‘…in relation to online abuse, bullying and harassment, particularly but not exclusively against female councillors”.

The proposed change in the wording prompted more than an hour of debate.

Cllr Qayyum explained that since becoming a councillor she has suffered a series of specific online attacks, both verbally abusive and racist, some of which are said to be the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Crown Prosecution Service.

She said: “The motion was initiated as a result of my own experiences, and contacts – both men, though more women – who work in the same arena as myself.

“I’ve been told by women that they don’t wish to come forward because they have no faith in the current system and that they’ll be abused for simply who they are.

“The abuse and threats directed against women in public office are increasingly the reason why there’s a poor public perception of politics, with the intimidation of women in political parties an all-round major barrier to participation.

“There are many like me who face similar abuse but don’t have the courage to speak out.”

Cllr Qayyum’s motion calls for a council Task and Finish Group to put forward recommendations at a forthcoming scrutiny committee meeting.

Cllr Walsh, Conservative member for Orton Longueville, said: “I think that Cllr Qayyum has raised a very important issue in her motion and I’m very sorry to hear of her personal experiences – they must’ve been very distressing indeed.

“Online abuse, bullying and harassment can potentially affect all members of our communities and cause victims to suffer severe mental health issues.

“It can affect people of all ages and sexual orientation. It can have a particularly harmful effect on young people and their ability to cope and thrive.

“I’m sure that there are many serving councillors who have been the victim of online abuse and this abuse has the potential of causing serious distress, as well as preventing elected members from serving their communities as well as they would like.

“Politics should not be like that. My amendment seeks to share the benefits that may derive from the Task and Finish group with all councillors, because online abuse is not just a female issue.”

During the subsequent debate the majority of female councillors said they had suffered some form of physical, mental, verbal or online abuse since being elected, with many of them were revealing this abuse for the very first time.

After a lengthy and often emotional debate the motion went to a vote which resulted in a stalemate, with 28 votes for the motion (as amended by Cllr Walsh) and 28 councillors against.

The casting vote went to the mayor, Cllr Gul Nawaz (Conservative, Ravensthorpe), who voted in favour of the amendment.