Analysis has revealed that Lichfield’s MP received more than 3,000 “toxic” posts on Twitter in a six week period.
More than three million social media posts mentioning MPs across the country were analysed by the BBC’s Shared Data Unit.
The project used a machine-learning tool to identify toxic comments defined as rude, disrespectful or unreasonable and likely to make someone exit a conversation.
The findings, released as part of the Local News Partnership, found that more than 130,000 such tweets were sent to politicians during a six week period in March and April.
The data reveals that Lichfield MP Michael Fabricant was subject to a total of 3,016 posts deemed to be toxic.
The figure puts him 11th in a table of the number of such posts received – and above the likes of Matt Hancock, Jeremy Corbyn, Grant Shapps, Nadhim Zahawi, Dominic Raab, Michael Gove and Jess Phillips.
Of those sent to Mr Fabricant, 372 were deemed to be “severely toxic”.
The Conservative MP said the way the social media platform was used meant such communications were more likely.
“I use three social media platforms – Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. They are used very differently.
“Instagram is primarily a platform for my photos, while Facebook tends to be a fairly factual medium for me where I will post what I have done and pictures I have taken rather than opinions I hold.
“Twitter, however, is a very different kettle of fish. It is not a platform that can be used for much detail being restricted to 240 characters and, by its nature, it is very eclectic.
“Do I go out of my way on Twitter to be controversial at times? Yes. I do so to be interesting and to be an effective communicator. Am I upset by ‘toxic’ comments? Mostly no.
“Indeed, I often don’t have time to read them as I am busy doing other work as a Member of Parliament. I would be more upset if, like most MPs, I always stuck to the party line, were inevitably dull as a consequence and didn’t have interactions with those in the twittersphere.
“So, in many ways I am flattered that the number of so-called ‘toxic’ tweets directed at me is more than the likes of Matt Hancock, Jeremy Corbyn, Grant Shapps, Nadhim Zahawi, Dominic Raab, Michael Gove and Jess Phillips – it shows that I am getting through to people.
Michael Fabricant
The analysis of the data also looked at the language used in toxic tweets to MPs – with “stupid” and “pathetic” the two most commonly used adjectives in the millions of messages sent during the six week period.
It also found that female MPs were more likely to be called “thick” and “ignorant” and be subject to sexualised language, while their male counterparts were more likely to be called “liars”.
“The effects are really serious”
Ellen Judson, head of the Centre for the Analysis of Social Media digital research hub at independent think tank Demos, said that online abuse was taking a toll on MPs.
“The effects are really serious – the status quo of online discourse is just untenable.
“We’ve seen stories of MPs feeling they have to step down because the abuse is just too much, MPs being afraid for their families and we’ve seen people say they don’t want to go into politics for this reason. They have seen the abuse others have received and they think it’s just not worth it.
“The psychological toll on individuals is very serious.”
Ellen Judson
The data also found Conservative MPs were nearly twice as likely as a Labour MP to receive a tweet classed as severely toxic – something Mr Fabricant said did not come as a shock.
“Am I surprised that almost twice the number of ‘severly toxic’ posts are directed at Conservative MPs in general? No.
“I believe this is for two reasons – firstly, the Conservatives are in Government. Opposition parties can enjoy the luxury of being responsible for nothing and blaming for all.
“The other reason is less obvious. The BBC tell me that audiences for political programmes are equally spread among all political parties. Yet Labour supporters are far more demonstrative in the audience, cheering and clapping, while Conservatives sit on their hands – I’ve seen it time and time again.
“Is it just that Conservatives tend to be more sensible and less revolutionary? Whatever the reason, it does not surprise me.
“I shall not claim that Conservative tweeters are, on the whole, just nicer. That would be controversial – so I might just put that idea forward on Twitter.”
Michael Fabricant
Many of Fabricants comments are “severely toxic”; let’s take the ones about NHS staff having parties in lockdown!
All the earlier contributions have disappeared. Was this robust editing Ross?
It would be nice if the cause of these complaints could make a similar exit
Not condoning abuse of any sort, there are better ways to win arguments, but Mr Fabricant is happy to amplify abusive tweets from his followers. ‘REMONGERS’ was one example, a cartoon of the Mayor of London engaged in a sexual act with a pig is another, there are many more. This suggests a degree of hypocrisy from our elected member. Perhaps he should look at his own online activity and see if he encourages that level of ‘debate’. Of course, his obsessive promotion of GB News, despite its frequent anti-vax and weird conspiracy theorist content is unconnected.
Mr Fabricant shouldn’t dish it out if he can’t take it. And with very little information on what actually counts as ‘toxic’ or ‘severely toxic’, along with no information about the dataset used to train the ML, it seems like the results can’t be verified.
I would hardly class the word stupid as toxic.
As for Tories get it worse because they are in power, perhaps if they didn’t make such fools of themselves they wouldn’t be under the spotlight.
Pot calling the kettle black here, methinks. I am curious as to what this other work is that he refers to, since apart from posing for photos at every opportunity, it’s not obvious to me what he actually does.
From a man who thought Liz Truss would make a good prime minister. he can’t admit he was wrong because to do so would mean questioning his beliefs. Then admitting his beliefs are wrong.
The wokies, loony lefties and remoaners are a bitter twisted bunch so this comes as no surprise to be honest.
Bizza – and what basis do you base your in depth analysis? There are trolls and keyboard warriors on all sides of the debate. Your use of language in your post suggests that your part of the problem.
“Liz Truss’s disastrous mini-budget cost the country a staggering £30bn – doubling the sum that the Treasury says will have to be raised by Jeremy Hunt this week in a huge programme of tax rises and spending cuts.
The independent Resolution Foundation calculates that the Truss government was responsible for about £30bn of the fiscal hole which the Treasury puts at £60bn, and which Hunt will have to tackle in the autumn statement on Thursday.” This is who Fabricant thought would be a good PM.
He will soon be along to tell us it’s all the fault of remoaners. meanwhile his attempts at distraction look increasingly desperate.
Don’t bowl it if you can’t bat it.
As you sow, so shall you reap.
Revs33, people like you are the problem because you take offence through terms/ phrases that are not offensive in the slightest. There are no profanities or huge derogatory insults in the descriptions used but sensitive, fragile people like you have to make a song and dance about a nothing situation.
Pete – Who is that defines offensiveness?
“O Judgment ! Thou art fled to brutish beasts, and men have lost their reason !”
We have seen two MPs murdered in this country in the past few years – one because of religious fanaticism and one because of political fanaticism. It is no coincidence that Jo Cox’s murder came during a time of increasingly toxic political language. We have since seen judges labelled traitors in the press – precisely the sort of language the Nazis employed against their opponents. Public figures, including politicians, are subjected to threats of violence and even death. Language matters: Putin has tried to manipulate language and ban the use of the word ‘war’ in relation to Ukraine. The language we use to disagree with one another has consequences. Everyone, including our own MP, should remember that.
Professor Pineapple…. Those with long knives these days! As Caesar found out.
Philip. Indeed. We are all too aware that the evil that Tories do lives after them.