Councillor Sally Goodfellow, a Labour representative for the Redbridge ward, has revealed she is enduring a wave of hostility and online harassment from residents in her area, which she claims is affecting her mental health and work performance.

Escalating Hostility in Local Politics

Cllr Goodfellow, who has served since 2012, described the current climate as increasingly hostile compared to when she first took office. She attributed this change to the rise of divisive politics and the influence of social media, which she believes has normalized aggressive behavior toward public officials.

“It’s almost like it’s acceptable now. We’re allowed to talk to politicians like that. When I got elected, people listened. Now it’s aggressive, and the abuse just feels normal to some people,” she said in an interview.

The abuse she has faced includes threats from residents claiming they would “set the dogs on her,” false accusations of being a paedophile, and messages calling her a “waste of space” or telling her to “get a proper job.”

“I find myself bracing myself for whether it’s going to be a nice person on the other side of the door or someone aggressive,” she added, highlighting the tension she faces when engaging with constituents.

Strain on Personal and Professional Life

Cllr Goodfellow, who also works in A&E at a local hospital, said balancing her council duties with her full-time job has become increasingly difficult. She noted that even during her annual leave, her phone remains on, and she continues to receive messages and emails from residents.

“Even when I’m on annual leave, my phone’s still on, I’m still getting messages, I’m getting emails… there’s never a switch-off time,” she said.

She also revealed that she is considering limiting her public engagement on social media, where she previously encouraged residents to reach out directly. “In Redbridge we’ve always been really open – people can contact us on Facebook – but I’m starting to think about reining that in because it’s just not nice anymore,” she said.

Cllr Goodfellow explained that this change would slow down the resolution of issues for residents. “When people tagged me in an issue online, I could see it on my break at work and quickly send it to an officer. If it has to come through email instead, it might take a couple of days,” she said.

Call for Empathy and Accountability

Cllr Goodfellow urged the public to consider the human impact of their words before posting online. “Think about how you would feel if a family member saw something negative about you. Think about before you type, think about the human the other side of it and how that looks and their families are reading that,” she said.

She also pointed out that councillors are often blamed for decisions that are not within their control. “You’re damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” she said, reflecting on the pressure of being a public servant.

The situation has prompted discussions about the need for greater accountability and civility in local politics. According to a 2023 report by the Local Government Association, 67% of council members reported experiencing some form of online abuse, with 23% saying it had affected their mental health.

Cllr Goodfellow’s case is not isolated, and it has sparked calls for stronger measures to protect public officials from harassment. “It’s important to remember that these are people trying to make a difference in their communities, not just career politicians,” she said.

Local officials and advocacy groups have begun pushing for better policies to safeguard public servants from online abuse, including clearer reporting mechanisms and stricter moderation of social media platforms.

“There’s a need for a culture shift, where people understand that their words can have real consequences for the people they are interacting with,” said a spokesperson for the Labour Party in Southampton.

Cllr Goodfellow has taken a break from social media to focus on her mental health, but she remains committed to her role as a councillor. “I still believe in what I’m doing, but I need to take a step back to ensure I can continue serving effectively,” she said.