Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has accused Nigel Farage and Reform UK of risking the safety of young women by pledging to scrap the Online Safety Act. Rayner demanded that Farage explain how his party would protect women from online abuse, including revenge porn, without the legislation.
Under rules introduced in late July, the Online Safety Act requires platforms to prevent children from accessing harmful content. Reform has vowed to repeal the law, citing free speech concerns and government overreach, but has not detailed an alternative plan.
Rayner stated: “Nigel Farage risks failing a generation of young women with his dangerous and irresponsible plans to scrap online safety laws.” She described revenge porn as a “devastating crime” and noted that it is classified among the most severe online offences under the act.
Labour cited figures from the charity Refuge, claiming that one million young women have been victims of revenge porn, with 3.4 million adults affected overall. The party argued that scrapping safeguards without a viable alternative would be an “appalling dereliction of duty”.
Reform UK councillor Laila Cunningham responded, arguing that women are less safe under Labour due to early prisoner releases. She said: “You don’t protect women by silencing speech. You protect them by securing borders, enforcing the law, and locking up actual criminals.”
