Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Jessica Murray Social affairs correspondent

‘A man threatened to shoot me’: the abuse pushing UK councillors out of politics

Heather Williams, in a white blazer with sunglasses on her head, poses arms crossed outdoors
Heather Williams has installed cameras and panic alarms in her home after ongoing abuse and threats. Photograph: The Guardian

Heather Williams has been shouted at in the street, received death threats, threats of sexual violence, and had dog faeces left on her doorstep. At one point, she didn’t leave her home alone for more than three months.

It was not how she expected her life to be when she first ran to be a Conservative district councillor in South Cambridgeshire nine years ago.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.