MP Charlotte Nichols increasingly concerned for safety after toxic tweets spill into “real life” violence

WARRINGTON North MP Charlotte Nichols has received more toxic tweets than any other MP in the North West and has had to step up security, after being physically assaulted and having someone visit her office armed with a knife.

BBC analysis of three million tweets aimed at MPs over a six-week period found more than 130,000, about one in 20, could be classed as toxic. Ms Nichols received more than 11,000 messages in the period, 8.3% of which were found to be toxic – the 5th highest in the whole country!

Over the period of six weeks, Ms Nichols was the target of almost 1,000 ‘toxic’ tweets on the social media platform. During the same period, Warrington South MP Andy Carter was mentioned fewer than 400 times, and just two of those mentions were flagged as ‘toxic.’

Responding to the research Ms Nichols, who has been physically assaulted and had someone come to her office armed with a knife says “clear laws” are needed to deal with “online harassment”.
As a result, she had to step up security at her home and office and believes much of what she has faced “has been whipped up by things online”.

Charlotte said: “I’d like to say I’m surprised, but frankly, I’m not.
“It’s rarely, if ever, from constituents and it’s not going to stop me doing the job they elected me to do. That’s not to say it’s not upsetting, and that I’m not growing increasingly concerned about my safety given some incidents that have spilled over into ‘real life’ violence by people that have been whipped up online into hating me and don’t see me as human anymore. When I can legally talk about some of that stuff (it’s with the police and the courts to deal with), I will, but for now suffice to say I didn’t have PTSD when I was elected and that is the reason I now have to live with it.
“None of this should be ‘part of the job’ and it’s why campaigns like ‘Debate Not Hate’ are so important.”
Charlotte added: “The vast majority of what I get isn’t from constituents thankfully – other than what’s in the cesspit “Stop the Warrington Council debt” group. I think a lot of people in there need to take a look at themselves.”

Commenting on the findings of the research Warrington South MP Andy Carter said: “I spend less and less time on twitter, it’s an unpleasant environment where individuals hide their identity and make comments which they wouldn’t dream of saying in the real world. Disagreement in politics is perfectly acceptable, but abuse is simply not.
“No matter our political affiliation, the vast majority of elected representatives share the same goal – to better the lives of those we represent.
“Political parties and those engaged in politics all need to consider their behaviour on social media, at the same time social media platforms have a role to play in policing the platforms, taking action more quickly and removing those accounts that publish comments which are toxic and inflammatory.”

According to analysis by the BBC, I receive the 5th highest proportion of abuse online (and highest in the NW region) of all MPs.

I’d like to say I’m surprised, but I’m not. It’s rarely, if ever, from constituents & it’s not going to stop me doing the job they elected me to do. https://t.co/aN33kHR27Z

— Charlotte Nichols (@charlotte2153) November 9, 2022

Today I sat down with @TVNaga01 on @bbc5live to discuss what it’s like being an MP- including dealing with online abuse, violence, the culture in Westminster and living with PTSD. Thank you for all the kind feedback so far😌

The full interview is here: https://t.co/pBA2qlHD7V

— Charlotte Nichols (@charlotte2153) November 9, 2022