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Misogynistic abuse of people you disagree with on social media must be stopped, says Jeremy Corbyn

Labour leader says practice, which candidates complained plagued leadership campaign, needed to be 'cut out'

Jon Stone
Brighton
Tuesday 29 September 2015 15:53 BST
Comments
Yvette Cooper had called on Mr Corbyn to make a commitment to kick people out if they engaged in the attacks
Yvette Cooper had called on Mr Corbyn to make a commitment to kick people out if they engaged in the attacks (Reuters)

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Jeremy Corbyn has called on Labour supporters to end “misogynistic abuse” against people who disagree with them on social media.

The Labour leader said the practice, which candidates complained plagued the Labour leadership campaign, needed to be “cut out”.

I want a kinder politics, a more caring society: don’t let them reduce you to believing in anything less

&#13; <p>Jeremy Corbyn</p>&#13;

“I do not believe in personal abuse of any sort. Treat people with respect, treat people as you wish to be treated yourself, listen to their views, agree or disagree, but have that debate. There’s going to be no rudeness from me,” he told his party conference in his keynote speech.

“I want a kinder politics, a more caring society: don’t let them reduce you to believing in anything less.

“I say to all activists, whether Labour or not: cut out the personal abuse, cut out the cyberbulling, and especially the misogynist abuse online, and let’s get on with bringing real values back into politics.”

Former leadership candidate Yvette Cooper warned at the weekend that “frightening” levels of misogynistic abuse was chasing women out of politics and would undermine Labour.

She called for Mr Corbyn to make a commitment to kick people out of the party if they engaged in the attacks.

Another leadership candidate Liz Kendall also faced significant personal attacks during the course of her campaign.

"Some of the abusive vitriolic stuff on social media has been appalling," she said in August.

"We are members and supporters of a party that believes in treating people equally and with dignity and respect. That is what we say to the public.”

Members of other parties have also been criticised for making personal attacks on social media, with some commentators branding aggressive SNP supporters “cybernats” during the Scottish independence referendum.

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