An Edinburgh councillor has been left 'shaken' after he was physically assaulted while handing out newsletters to constituents in his ward.
Edinburgh Liberal Democrats leader Kevin Lang took to Twitter to post about the incident, which happened on Sunday morning. He said it was the first time he's been attacked in his 25-year career.
The councillor was forced to call in the police after a man came out of his house and grabbed him by the throat and stuffed the newsletter down his shirt.
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He wrote: "I’ve been doing politics a long time so I’m used to shouty, angry people but today is the first time I’ve ever been physically assaulted. Was simply out delivering my councillor newsletter when a man came out of his house, grabbed me by the throat…
"And stuffed the newsletter down my shirt, using all kinds of profanity as he did so. I’ve obvs reported to the police. No matter what divides us, this kind of intimidation and abuse of people you disagree with has no place in a free and democratic society."
In just a few hours, hundreds of friends and colleagues offered messages of support.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Cllr Lang said the incident had left him furious.
He said: "I'm fine, but I was quite shaken up earlier. I've been in politics for 25 years and I have never had anyone put their hands on me. It was just the shock of the situation as I wasn't expecting it at all and I've gradually got more angry about it was the day has gone on.
"I just don't think that kind of behaviour is ever necessary. I had only put a newsletter through his letterbox, that was it. I had delivered it about 15 minutes before the incident and I was coming down the other side of the road, so this person had obviously been waiting for me before coming out of his house."
Kevin, who represents the Almond ward in Edinburgh, and delivers the same newsletter regularly, was reluctant to reveal the exact address at which the incident occurred, but said the police are taking it very seriously so far.
He added: "I've been a councillor for five years and involved in politics for 25 years, yes you meet angry people and people who insult you, that's part of the job and you develop a thick skin for that. For the simple act of me keeping in touch with my constituents by delivering a newsletter, which I've done every two months since I was elected, I'm not sure why this individual thought it was acceptable to come out and assault me.
"Yes we all live in difficult times and I just don't think it is appropriate for anyone to act in such a way. I'm lucky that I'm 6ft 2 and a bloke, but it could have been anyone. The risk is that if people going about keeping in touch with their community and doing their jobs feel threatened, then it will put people off putting their name forward for elected politics."
Kevin added that he bravely completed his newsletter round and didn't let the incident phase him too much, saying he wouldn't let anyone intimidate him and prevent him doing his job.
Police Scotland confirmed they were made aware of an assault on a man at 11am on Sunday, August 7, in South Queensferry, and enquiries into the incident are ongoing.
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