'Chilling' abuse for politicians during election

Intimidation, stalking and harassment were some of the forms of abuse faced by politicians ahead of this year's elections.

In a questionnaire carried out by the BBC, MPs and councillors spoke about "being chased" while out campaigning, people "taking pictures" outside their house and verbal abuse at hustings.

The questionnaire was handed out to councillors elected in May's local elections in Bristol City, Swindon, Gloucester, Cheltenham and Stroud.

It was also given to MPs and second-placed candidates.

Barbara Clark, a Liberal Democrat councillor in Cheltenham, had abusive messages left on her answerphone because her campaign leaflets supported the Covid vaccine rollout.

"He threatened me, and it was chilling. I've never been spoken to like that in my life before," Ms Clark said.

Some of the anonymous responses of the types of abuse unearthed by the BBC questionnaire included:

• "Our campaign posters were slashed and graffiti added."

• "A conspiracy theorist at a hustings got very verbally aggressive with our local candidate."

• "I was badly verbally abused at a surgery I used to hold. The police had to ask the man to leave. I stopped holding surgeries after that for my safety. I also suffered abuse in carrying out my role in a very serious way by a stalker when I was first elected six years ago. Nails were [left] under my tyres."

• "A member of the public chased my campaign team and I down on two separate occasions and was verbally extremely aggressive."

• "A death threat in 2019 from somebody with a criminal record for politically motivated crimes. Threats in 2023 from an individual who sent me and other local activists emails and left abusive voicemails."

Ms Clark reported the threats made to her to Gloucestershire Police and a restraining order was put in place.

Cheltenham Borough Council has also invested in extra security because of threatening behaviour during council meetings.

"We'd be foolish as a council not to have considered how we keep our staff, our councillors but also the people attending the hearing safe," said councillor Dr David Willingham.

During the local elections, Swindon Conservative councillor Daniel Adams said he had people taking photos outside his house.

"I think in hindsight I should have gone to the police," Mr Adams said.

"My wife was quite annoyed I didn't tell her."

Labour MP for Stroud Dr Simon Opher said he was "delighted" to be elected in July, winning the largest majority since 1992, and the largest majority ever for a Labour MP.

The night after the election, the team came back to a smashed window at his office, after a brick was thrown at it.

"It didn't really upset me that much," Dr Opher said.

"It was just a bit of a stark reminder that politics is potentially dangerous."

The incident was reported to the police.

The Jo Cox foundation, formed after the murder of the Labour MP in 2016, said this is a common experience for politicians across the country.

"[We want] politicians to model civil behaviour themselves, so it's up to all of us," said Civility Commission Manager Hannah Phillips.

"We want robust debate with respect," she added.

The foundation has urged candidates standing in elections to take the Civility Pledge and share their commitment to a respectful election campaign, as just one way to champion a fairer politics.

House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is setting up a new committee which will consider threat levels against candidates and MPs, and recommend ways to address them.

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