'Moreover, since she is black, we won't, under any circumstances, threaten her.'

Weaponising allegations of abuse by opponents (or allegations of purges in response) may not be the same as weaponising the abuse itself but it is also unlikely to help. Insults are never an acceptable substitute for political argument, from whichever direction they come. Abuse in politics disfigures us all and it threatens us all.

Caroline Criado-Perez began receiving a barrage of online abuse after the Bank of England announced Jane Austen would feature on the next £10 note. These bizarre and extremely aggressive reactions to her have so far been explained as uncovering a previously suppressed widespread hatred of women. We think the psychology of her predicament is more complex, hinging upon what success represents to the envious and, particularly, those with low self-esteem.