'Spat at and abused': Local election candidates speak out after more than half reported harassment in last year
The Electoral Commission warned that social media was the most common form of harassment and has called for abusive content to be removed faster
More than half of local election candidates have reported problems with harassment and abuse this year, according to the Electoral Commission.
Listen to this article
The warning comes amid rising concerns about politicians’ safety and fears that increasing levels of harassment could put people off standing for office.
A report by the watchdog on this year’s local elections in England found 55% of candidates said they had encountered problems of harassment or abuse, up from 47% last year.
Inappropriate contact through social media was the most common form of harassment, with 39% of candidates saying they had experienced it.
But candidates also reported verbal abuse from members of rival parties and members of the public, being followed down the street and some cases of physical violence.
Read More: Boris Johnson calls for more Ukraine air defences after 'random and senseless' train attack
Read More: Kimi Antonelli holds off Max Verstappen to win Spanish Grand Prix
One told the Electoral Commission: “Someone attempted to attack me when I visited their property, initially went to throw a punch at me, then spat at me, which I moved out of the way.”
Only 15% said they had reported the incidents to the police.
Experiences also varied by party, with more than half of Reform UK and Labour candidates telling the Electoral Commission they had experienced abuse.
Some 43% of Green Party candidates said they had been abused, while the figures for the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats were 26% and 22% respectively.
Vijay Rangarajan, chief executive of the Electoral Commission, said the levels of abuse “demonstrate the growing threats posed to democracy”.
He said: “Without improvements to candidate safety, there is a significant risk that people will be put off standing in future elections.
Mr Rangarajan went on: “It requires work right across the electoral community to prioritise the safety of all those taking part.
“Parties have a responsibility to make it clear to their members that they should respect all candidates, regardless of which party they represent, while social media companies should act faster to remove abusive content aimed at candidates, and identify those responsible.”
Conservative deputy leader Alex Burghart said: “Candidates must be free to campaign, express their views and make their case to voters without fear of abuse or intimidation.
“If people are being threatened or attacked simply for putting themselves forward for election, that should concern us all.
“Free and fair elections depend on candidates being able to speak and voters being able to hear them. We cannot allow intimidation to silence people or drive good candidates out of public life.”