Communities Minister Rushanara Ali highlighted the importance of protecting freedom of expression while ensuring safety for those involved in democratic participation, emphasizing a resilient democracy where people can engage without fear.

The Speaker's Conference, led by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, is examining the escalating threats faced by MPs, which are believed to undermine democratic debate and discourage candidacy.

Research from the Electoral Commission revealed that 55% of candidates in the 2024 general election experienced some form of abuse, including serious acts like vandalism and targeting of their families, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced protections.

The government is working through the Defending Democracy Taskforce to strengthen protections against election interference and threats to electoral participants, aiming to safeguard the integrity of the democratic process.

The UK government is set to announce new measures next week in a strategy paper aimed at safeguarding the electoral process, following a rise in threats and abuse during the 2024 general election.

These proposals will introduce tougher punishments for threatening behavior against candidates, campaigners, elected officials, and electoral staff, both online and in person, with the goal of deterring such actions.

The upcoming proposals aim to encourage more individuals to stand for office by ensuring their safety and protecting the electoral process from intimidation and harassment.

The government plans to implement harsher penalties for individuals who threaten or intimidate election participants, responding directly to the increase in incidents reported during the last election.