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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Ben Quinn Political correspondent

Rise in abuse of election candidates is ‘changing politics’ in England

A Labour canvasser in a red jacket carries a black backpack with flyers and a drink bottle in its pocket
A Labour party campaigner during the local elections in May. Almost 80% of female candidates said they avoided campaigning on their own at least once, compared with 46% of males. Photograph: Joel Goodman/The Guardian

Abuse and intimidation of election candidates is “a serious and growing concern”, the Electoral Commission has said, as a review of this year’s local and mayoral elections in England revealed a surge in threats to those who stood.

More than half of the candidates for Labour or Reform UK reported abuse while those most likely to be targeted were women, people from minority ethnic backgrounds and those with disabilities.

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