Sebastian Payne

Jeremy Corbyn’s New Politics has ushered in an era of appalling online bullying

It was meant to be about open debate and discussion, consensus through dialogue. But so far, Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership of the Labour party and the arrival of the so-called New Politics has resulted in division and a lot of abuse and bad feeling. In light of last night’s vote on Syria airstrikes, Twitter and Facebook have been exploding with extraordinary levels of comments and abuse that no one, MPs or otherwise, should be subjected to.

For example, hard-left groups such as Lefty Unity, have been using Twitter to stir up agitation against the MPs they disagree with:

As well as telling those well-intentioned MPs who voted for the airstrikes they have ‘blood on their hands’:

Hilary Benn, the shadow foreign secretary who has been praised across the political spectrum for his impassioned speech in favour of airstrikes, has received torrents of insults about his father’s legacy. Most of them go along the lines that Tony Benn would be ashamed of his son:

https://twitter.com/ashrouen/status/672327638057373696

Stella Creasy, the Labour MP for Walthamstow, who also voted for the airstrikes (spotting a pattern here?), has been subjected in particular to enormous amounts of vitriol.

https://twitter.com/KateVice13/status/672345865835663360

Sensibly, Creasy has organised a public meeting on Sunday and suggested annoyed constituents can come and discuss the matter with her.

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