Councillors show support for Debate Not Hate campaign

Leader of the Council and Conservative Group, Cllr Phil King, and the Leader of the Liberal Democrats on the Council, Cllr Phil Knowles, have both signed the Debate Not Hate public statement as part of the Local Government Association (LGA) campaign.

The Debate Not Hate campaign aims to raise public awareness of the role of councillors in their communities, encourage healthy debate and improve the responses and support for local politicians facing abuse and intimidation.

Cllr Phil King said: "Fortunately incidents of harassment towards Councillors in the Harborough district are rare, but they do take place, and this isn’t acceptable. Anyone, regardless of their background or political affiliation, should feel safe to become a Councillor and be proud to represent their community. I have signed the public statement and have encouraged all councillors to do the same."

Cllr Knowles said: “Be it in Council, on the streets, or in life in general I will never defend or agree with personal attacks, harassment of - or encouraging others to indulge/participate in the harassing or personal attacks on others. Such practices are simply wrong on every level.“

The public statement and signatories can be viewed at: https://www.local.gov.uk/about/campaigns/debate-not-hate/debate-not-hate-sign-our-public-statement