Labour’s former minister, Anneliese Dodds, has criticised the Government for failing to act on the role of social media in last summer’s Southport riots, warning that “there are many other canaries choking down the coal mine.”
The violent unrest erupted following the tragic deaths of three young girls in a knife attack at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class. The riots, which saw racist mobs set fire to buildings, were widely fuelled by online misinformation and extremist rhetoric.
Speaking in the House of Commons for the first time since her resignation as international development minister, Ms Dodds condemned the Government’s inaction on the role of social media in inciting violence.
‘A moment of national shame’
Ms Dodds, the MP for Oxford East, expressed her disappointment, saying:
“Last summer saw the worst racist riots in our country since the Second World War. None of us can forget those appalling scenes when racist thugs set fire to hotels, knowing people remained inside. And all in the name of three poor, beautiful little girls – may they rest in peace.”
While acknowledging the swift policing and criminal justice response, Ms Dodds insisted that deeper, systemic issues remain unaddressed.
“The influence of social media has not been fully digested, let alone acted upon. And there are many other canaries choking down the coal mine, not least due to the growth and impact of violent online misogyny.”
She warned that current policies fail to account for the rapidly evolving digital landscape, calling for urgent regulatory action to curb the spread of extremist content online.
Calls for a UK-EU digital policy dialogue
Ms Dodds urged the Government to foster international cooperation in tackling online radicalisation, suggesting a structured digital policy dialogue between the UK and the European Union.
“We must work more closely with others seeking to protect their democracies – from Helsinki to Rio, Tallinn to Ottawa, Chisinau to Berlin.
“In that vein, paralleling the Prime Minister’s push for a UK-EU defence partnership, we surely also need a UK-EU structured dialogue on digital policy and the defence of our democracies.”
Sorcha Eastwood: ‘A direct attack on democracy’
In a heated Commons debate, Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood revealed that she had been personally targeted by online influencers after criticising X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk.
Ms Eastwood accused social media figures Andrew and Tristan Tate of orchestrating a campaign of harassment against her, following her comments about Musk’s role in amplifying extremist content.
“Figures like Andrew Tate have built empires manipulating young men into their worlds of violent misogyny, lies, and conspiracy, ingratiating themselves with Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
“Does he care about men? Not a bit. He exploits them.”
She described the barrage of online abuse she endured, including death threats and rape jokes, stating:
“Then the Tate brothers themselves came after me. Two men running from the most serious criminal charges, propped up by the world’s most powerful leaders, and they targeted me, an elected representative from Northern Ireland, for daring to speak my mind.”
“It wasn’t even about them, it was about Musk. But it was a calculated attempt to silence an elected politician. I was, in their words, ‘a nice target’. A direct attack on democracy and this House itself.”
Ms Eastwood argued that social media platforms have fostered an environment where extremism flourishes, silencing women, minorities, and political opponents.
Andrew Tate’s legal team dismisses claims
In response, Andrew Tate’s lawyer, Joseph McBride, dismissed Ms Eastwood’s allegations as “fantastical poppycock,” arguing that she was misrepresenting the issue of free speech.
“She’s one of many UK-based politicians who fail to understand that freedom of speech is essential for democracy’s success.
“She speaks about democracy’s importance with one side of her mouth while labelling opposing views as extremist with the other.
“Young men worldwide despise this kind of doublethink and the fact that they’re viewed with suspicion for being born with testicles.
“In summary, MP Sorcha Eastwood is strengthening Tate’s position, not weakening it.”
Government response: ‘No place for online abuse’
Technology Minister Feryal Clark responded to the debate by condemning online abuse and affirming the Government’s commitment to protecting women and girls from digital harassment.
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“The Government is committed to combating violence against women and girls. The Online Safety Act requires Ofcom to develop and enforce guidance for tech companies, ensuring that platforms take measures to reduce harm to women and girls online.”
Ms Clark highlighted that the Act imposes a legal responsibility on online platforms—including social media sites, gaming platforms, dating apps, and search engines—to protect users from illegal content and material harmful to children.
On the Southport riots, she stated:
“During the unrest last year, the department worked with major platforms to tackle content contributing to that disorder. This included proactively referring content for platforms to assess and act on in line with their terms of service.
“And through our engagement, we have been very clear that social media platforms should not be waiting for the Online Safety Act to come into action—they should be actively removing harmful content now.”
Opposition: ‘Government blind to the problem’
Speaking to the PA news agency ahead of the debate, Ms Eastwood criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s government for its lacklustre response, dismissing its move to screen the Netflix drama Adolescence in secondary schools as inadequate.
“It’s already clear that the Online Safety Act isn’t robust enough. These companies will only respond to what they understand—and that’s money, that’s cash, and that’s hitting them where it hurts: right in the pocket.”
As digital platforms continue to shape public discourse and influence real-world events, the question remains—how long can the Government afford to delay meaningful action?
