An East Cambs district councillor – selected as a candidate for this year’s Cambridgeshire County Council elections– has issued a reminder of a motion he introduced last year, and which was unanimously supported calling for an end to “abuse and intimidation” in politics.
Soham councillor Lucius Vellacott is standing for the county council for the Sutton division that includes Little Downham, Witchford, Mepal and Witcham.
Cllr Vellacott had just turned 18 when he was elected in 2023 to East Cambridgeshire District Council.
“At a volatile time in politics, of my proudest achievements last year was to present this cross-party motion preventing abuse and intimidation,” he said today in a Facebook post.
“Every single member of East Cambs District Council present endorsed this important motion in full.”
He said the council noted the following:
East Cambridgeshire District Council, hereinafter referred to as the ‘Council’, notes that:
– It is a privilege and a responsibility to be elected to a public office, which members feel proud to enter into. It is an equal privilege and responsibility to serve local government as an officer.
– The intimidation and abuse of councillors and candidates, of any party or none, in person or otherwise, undermines democracy, prevents elected members from representing the communities they serve and deters individuals from standing for election. It also undermines effective discussion, understanding and accountability for the benefit of local people
– According to the Local Government Association, this intimidation and abuse is greatly increased with respect to social media, which has greater implications for younger people becoming or serving as councillors or officers
Soham councillor Lucius Vellacott stands against political abuse and intimidation– Increasing levels of toxicity in public and political discourse, towards both officers and Members, distracts from the material priorities of local communities, and is preventing the engagement of a wide range of people and viewpoints in the democratic process
– Preventative actions, support and responses should be in place to ensure that Members, candidates, and officers feel safe and able to fulfil their obligations to the best of their judgement and ability.”
Cllr Vellacott said the council resolved to:
– Officially subscribe itself to the Local Government Association’s Debate Not Hate campaign, which endeavours to raise public awareness of the role of councillors in local communities, encourage healthy debate and support those in public life more generally who may face abuse and/or intimidation
– Use the LGA template letter to write to Lucy Frazer (then the local MP) and Steve Barclay MP to ask them to work with His Majesty’s Government and the LGA to develop and implement a plan to address abuse and intimidation of public officials at every level of government
– Subsequently, instruct the chief executive John Hill to publicise the council’s membership thereof to all staff and members and display the LGA Debate Not Hate posters at The Grange reception and council chamber, and to actively encourage its Parish Councils to do the same, citing the above information
Soham councillor Lucius Vellacott stands against political abuse and intimidation– Instruct the chief executive and democratic services manager to undertake a 4-yearly review (before each full election to the council) of the support available to councillors, officers, and election candidates in relation to abuse, intimidation and safety, and report this to the finance and assets committee and to all candidates
– To have this information uploaded to a page as part of the new website development, and to display the LGA’s Debate Not Hate logo in the website footer
– Work with the local Police and the East Cambs Community Safety Partnership (CSP) to ensure there is a clear and joined-up mechanism for reporting threats and other concerns about the safety of public officials and their families, including prevention
– Take a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of councillors, candidates, and officers, whether in person or otherwise, and support them to uphold the most exemplary standards of respectful debate, individual accountability, and public service
Cllr Vellacott said his successful motion was seconded by Cllr Mary Wade, the Liberal Democrat councillor for Ely West.
