To worry that this is a major threat to our democracy?

[Worrydon]

https://themuslimvote.co.uk/.

Ever since learning about the targeted campaign of threats and harassment against MP Jess Phillips, it has become clear that those harassing her, along with other similar independent MPs are being pushed into power by sectarian politics.

many of these independent MPs have gotten in purely off the back of being pro-Gaza, despite not offering any solutions to local issues. Our MPs should represent local and national interests, not exclusively one foreign agenda piece.

This website (the Muslim Vote) encourages people to put in their post code, and it then tells you who to vote for based entirely off their stance on Gaza.

This appears to be allowing religion and sectarianism to corrupt our democracy, and I worry that not enough attention is being paid to this threat.

Anyone?

Not especially. This Government, and the last one, have pressure groups inside funded by Israel, with the express aim of furthering its cause. They also both have private companies lobbying and funding MPs.

I think it's the least of our worries regarding democracy in the UK.

https://www.jewishvoiceforlabour.org.uk/article/how-israel-funds-uk-parliamentary-staff/

The vote is over for the next few years surely?@

Harassment of MPs/candidates/campaigners/voters is obviously completely unacceptable.

Our MPs should represent local and national interests, not exclusively one foreign agenda piece.

This website (the Muslim Vote) encourages people to put in their post code, and it then tells you who to vote for based entirely off their stance on Gaza.

So? I'll vote for who I want, for whatever reason I want. I didn't vote for any of the people who you're concerned about, I voted Labour. But you don't get to say that voting because of cause X is invalid, but voting because of cause Y is fine. I personally think voting based on a single issue is misguided, but it's not up to me how people choose to vote a certain way.

Why are you only objecting to the Muslim vote here? Why are you not objecting to lobbyists for Israel, Russia, Trump, big tobacco, big pharmacy, PETA, or any of the other single issue groups that do exactly the same thing?

I completely agree with you OP - according to reports I’ve read there was a lot of pressure on some mosques around who they should be voting for which is very concerning. Also video footage of supporters being extremely aggressive towards voters.

The Islamic religion should not have any influence over our politics at all.

I feel sorry for the non-Muslims in those constituencies - where do they turn if they need support now?!

It's not 'corrupting democracy' in the slightest. If Gaza is the single most important issue for a voter, they are perfectly entitled to research which candidate they feel will best represent them on that issue.

It's no different from one of the many websites where you can choose from a set of manifesto statements and it will then tell you which party your views most align with.

'Democracy' means that every adult in the country can vote for the person they choose. It isn't corrupting democracy to provide people with information about candidates' policies.

Do I personally think Gaza is the most important issue facing the UK? No. I think it's an awful situation, but one which we are largely powerless to influence, so it's not high on my list of priority issues for an election candidate. But if if IS high on someone's list of priorities, then they are fully entitled to research things and vote on that basis.

Plenty of people, by the way, vote for candidates on the basis of Christian issues - for example, there are certainly Christians who would find out a candidate's position on abortion, assisted dying, faith schools and marriage legislation before voting for them. Do you also think that's a threat to democracy?

I disagree. Lots of people are single issue voters. Just look at how many people on mumsnet claim to have voted purely because of a party’s stance on trans rights, or VAT on school fees, or immigration. Voting purely because of a party or individual’s stance on Gaza is no different.

We also don’t know how these MPs will fare on local issues. They’re brand new. They might be brilliant at representing their communities. They haven’t had a chance to prove themselves yet.

This kind of voting suggestion exists for all sorts of issues. I could survey every candidate about the best flavor of ice cream if I thought that was the most important campaign issue and could convince enough of them to provide the information. It is a long held tradition, the internet has just made the information easier to access.

Are you suggesting a Muslim MP can’t offer constituency support to non-Muslims? If that’s your logic then do you also think a Christian MP couldn’t support their Muslim, Jewish, Hindu etc constituents?!

Being a member of a particular region does not mean you can’t represent others who aren’t the same religion as you. This is pure bigotry.

Whoever it was that suggested our politicians should have their sponsors' names on the back of their shirts has a point.

Personally, I think, It would be MORE democratic to have more voices represented in the decision making of this country, not less democratic.

Right now there's a party in power that got 9.6 Millon votes out of a 67 million population. That's a lot of people that didn't vote for Labour, doesn't seem very democratic to just say,
"Well that's the system so tough tit numpty"

I think threats and harassment of any candidate standing for election should be taken very seriously and would like to see those responsibilities receive prison time. Intimidation is a threat to democracy but advising people on the best candidates to vote for to address a voters specific priorities is not. There were plenty of websites advising on tactical voting to get the Tories out, I don't see how this is any different.

I didn't see any of those groups harassing voters at polling stations.

I didn't see any of those groups harassing voters at polling stations.

That didn't really seem to be OP's main problem. Her main problem was that she didn't think MPs should focus on the issue, and she was complaining that the website helped point people in a specific direction.

No one thinks the harassment is acceptable.

This isn't about religion.... its about human decency.... killing innocent palastinians has absolutely nothing to do with religion....

Democracy is about freedom of choice, if people want to vote for people to put an end to this inhumane slaughter of millions of innocent people then that is their DEMOCRATIC right.

They want to remove the spiritual influence statue from legislation because it’s “archaic”, apparently your Imam/Rabbi/ priest telling you you are going to hell unless you vote for x party is not archaic. That is definitely an assault on democratic norms.

I have voted YABU simply because this has been going on for donkeys years. Same with the whole postal voting con..

Well… I don’t know about it being a threat to democracy itself; but am I concerned that there is an effort to have religious vote in the U.K., yes. That isn’t a great development, and indeed history would suggest being in mainstream politics is more protective of rights for religious and non religious.

I don’t understand those misguided souls that think we have any influence over foreign conflicts. It’s best voting for those anyone thinks represent US best, but whatever.

However, no one, of any party, should be exposed to threats or abuse.

Just wish people would keep their religious bollocks to themselves frankly. It’s always comforting to see the Christian Parties right at the bottom of the results during elections.

I don’t think religion has any serious place in public life. Yup go ahead and throw up a prayer etc during public events but I don’t want MP’s being voted for on religious affiliation, religion tends to be utterly regressive.

I'm confused, Jess Phillips resigned because of her pro-ceasefire stance. So who are you saying is harassing her? Jews?

This article is hyperbole. They are talking about lobbying. Yes Israel pays for MPs and aides to visit Israel or to attend presentations about Israel. Lots of special interests do the same. MPs and Aides are not given paid trips to Palestine, but they do attend presentations with refreshments by Palestine lobbying groups.

People who aren’t bothered about what she did, but like leveraging perceptions about her. Organized on the basis of “the Muslim Vote”. Depressing