MPs have resolved to tackle the explosion in on line bullying after a Westminster debate that was called by local MP Simon Hart.

He joined forces with Maria Miller, MP for Basingstoke and chair of the Women and Equality Select Committee, to secure the debate on the floor of the House of Commons which was supported by about 30 MPs from all parties.

Mr. Hart told the debate: “I quickly discovered that it was a huge issue affecting vast numbers of people, young and old, and not just in my own patch of West Wales, but across the UK.

“Online abuse knows no boundaries: it affects the old, the young, the vulnerable, and it can, these days, be worryingly anonymous. It was described to me the other day as like a persistent headache from which one simply cannot escape - there is no safe place or private little haven where one can escape the impact of the online bully.

“It can lead to reputational damage, financial loss, job loss, mental health issues, relationship breakdown, isolation and even, in the worst cases, suicide.”

The MPs heard that there has been an explosion in the number of court cases involving online abuse and they aired concerns that only the tip of the iceberg is being dealt with.

They agreed to pass a resolution calling on the Government to ensure that clear legislation exists that recognises the true impact and nature of online abuse, and that the Government puts in place appropriate legal and criminal sanctions, police training, guidance to the CPS and education for young people relating to such abuse.

Mr. Hart added: “Do the social media platforms take their responsibilities seriously enough? Back when most communication was through printed newspapers if anyone had written a letter to an containing some of the stuff it now appears perfectly reasonable to put on Facebook or Twitter, there would have been no question of it seeing the light of day; it would have been torn up and chucked in the bin.

“Now, however, some of those platforms are facilitating some pretty disgusting material, and sort of saying, “Well, it’s up to the victim to complain to the police if they wish”. I am not sure that social media platforms, good work though they have done, are yet in a position that can be called fully responsible.

“I am worried that we live in a world where the kind of language, tone, and incidents we read about are becoming so widespread and common that they are almost becoming normal.”