Scotland's female politicians open up on toxic online abuse in wake of Sturgeon resignation

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Top Scots politicians have opened up about the toxic levels of sexist abuse that women in public office face in the wake of Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation.Female MPs and MSPs across the political spectrum told the Daily Record the misogynistic vitriol from trolls on social media is worse than it’s ever been.And they warned talented young women were being put off from entering politics entirely.In her resignation speech this week, the outgoing First Minister spoke out about the “brutality” of public life and said she hoped politics could “depolarise” in the years ahead.And in an upcoming BBC documentary, Sturgeon branded the current political climate for women “harsher and more hostile” than ever before, blaming social media for “providing a vehicle for the most awful abuse of women, misogyny, sexism, threats of violence”.That view chimed with the politicians we spoke to.Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “The vast majority of women would go nowhere near politics because of the everyday sexism which sometimes can escalate into real life threats and violence.“A lot of people just don't want to put themselves through that - and why should they?“My test is, right now would I want my daughter who is 16 to be involved in frontline politics?“And the honest answer to that is no.

I don’t take any pleasure in saying that.”She agreed politics had become “more hostile, more toxic”, saying: “We've all become more aware of unpleasant things happening to colleagues, including death threats, and really creepy correspondence, emails, social media.”The Central Scotland MSP added: “It makes us think very carefully about advertising surgeries or having in-person surgeries at all.“These decisions have an impact on democracy.”For SNP MP