‘The worst year in memory’: parties describe climate of abuse on campaign trail

Candidates and political parties have described a climate of abuse in this year’s local and devolved elections including death threats and intimidation while campaigning. Elections are taking place across councils in England and governments in Scotland and Wales on Thursday, with millions expected to vote. Candidates and politicians from a wide range of political parties have reported abuse and harassment in the lead-up to the elections, with the Green party describing this year’s campaign as the worst in memory. Dan Jarvis, the security minister, condemned “the rising tide of vile abuse, harassment and intimidation aimed towards elected officials and candidates” online and in person. “Anyone engaging in this sort of behaviour is directly attacking our democracy and we all must do more to stop it becoming normalised,” he said. A spokesperson for the Green party said some candidates had received death threats and were “yelled at or chased down the street,” with some having to withdraw from campaigning in certain areas due to harassment. “Anecdotally, this has been the worst year in memory,” a spokesperson said, adding that the party had been “a focus at this election more than ever before”. “Some wildly false claims being made about the party and its representatives, which some members of the public have accepted on face value.” It is unknown how widespread abuse and harassment has been on the campaign trail this year. …