Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Labour has pledged to ban members and supporters who send abusive message on social media from voting in its leadership election.
The party has set up an email address, validation@labour.org.uk, which it says any abuse should be reported to directly.
General secretary Iain McNichol said in a statement on Monday that there was “simply too much” personal abuse taking place and that “it needs to stop”.
“I want to be clear, if you are a member and you engage in abusive behaviour towards other members it will be investigated and you could be suspended while that investigation is carried out,” he said.
“If you are a registered supporter or affiliated supporter and you engage in abusive behaviour you will not get a vote in this Leadership election. Details of any abusive behaviour can be reported by emailing validation@labour.org.uk.”
Mr McNichol repeatedly described the leadership election as “choosing our candidate for next Prime Minister” rather than choosing the party leader.
He acknowledged that both candidates for leader, Jeremy Corbyn and Owen Smith, had called for personal attacks to stop.
Factional warfare within Labour has boiled over in recent weeks, with supporters being rude to one another on Twitter.
A window was also smashed at Angela Eagle’s constituency office after she declared that she would run against Mr Corbyn. She later withdrew from the race.
Mr Corbyn has repeatedly called for calm from his supporters and others.
“As someone who has also received death threats this week and previously, I am calling on all Labour Party members and supporters to act with calm and treat each other with respect and dignity, even where there is disagreement,” he said earlier this month.
“I utterly condemn any violence or threats, which undermine the democracy within our party and have no place in our politics.”
Rival social media accounts have in recent weeks been cataloguing social media abuse against and by both parties.
Twitter page @LabourCoupAbuse catalogues threats and abuse by Labour moderates against Mr Corbyn’s supporters, while @GentlerPolitics highlights attacks by supporters of Mr Corbyn.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments