GB-London: Update of the LGA Councillor guide to handling intimidation

The Local Government Association (LGA) is a politically-led, cross-party organisation that works on behalf of councils to ensure local government has a strong, credible voice with national government. We aim to influence and set the political agenda on issues that matter to councils, so they are able to deliver local solutions to national problems. We also provide a range of practical support to councils and councillors to support local government to continuously improve and innovate for the benefit of their residents. Intimidation and abuse of councillors undermines democracy; it can prevent elected members from representing the communities they serve, prevent individuals from aspiring to become councillors and undermine public trust in democratic processes. In 2019, the LGA in partnership with the Welsh LGA published its first councillor guide to handling intimidation to support councillors to manage issues of abuse and intimidation in-person and online. The LGA has since committed to working across the four nations of the UK to towards stopping these harmful behaviours taking place. This work falls under LGA Business plan priorities around Strong Local Leadership in which elected members should be empowered to tackle incidents of public intimidation.