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More than Half of Local Election Candidates Suffered Abuse in 2026
A survey of 25,000 candidates found one third considered not standing again, and the watchdog urged tougher party rules and online protections.
- More than half of candidates in local elections in England earlier this year experienced harassment or intimidation, marking the highest level over the last four years, according to an Electoral Commission survey of 25,000 participants.
- Inappropriate contact through social media emerged as the most frequent harassment scenario, with Reform, Labour, Conservatives, and Liberal Democrats candidates experiencing varying levels of abuse.
- Some 79% of female respondents reported avoiding the campaign trail alone at least once. One candidate described their daughter having "called me from school crying" after seeing online posts branding them "racist, fascist and Nazi."
- Only 15% of those surveyed reported such experiences to the police. The Electoral Commission is calling on political parties to make clear in their rules that members "must respect other campaigners," with potential disciplinary action if they do not.
- One third of respondents contemplated not standing for election due to harassment. Vijay Rangarajan, chief executive of the Electoral Commission, warned these hostility levels "demonstrate the growing threats posed to democracy," risking future participation without improvements to candidate safety.
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According to the British Electoral Commission, more than half of the candidates for Reform UK and Labour have been subjected to harassment or intimidation - women and people from minority backgrounds or disabilities are particularly at risk.
·Copenhagen, Denmark
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More than half of local election candidates hit by harassment and abuse amid growing threats to democracy
More than half of candidates who stood in this year's local elections suffered harassment or abuse amid warnings of growing threats to British democracy.The Electoral Commission found 55 per cent of candidates experienced issues during May's elections in England, up from 47 per cent last year.The watchdog warned that rising levels of intimidation risk driving people away from public life and putting prospective candidates off standing for electi…
·London, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left2Leaning Right2Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution34% Left, 33% Center, 33% Right
Bias Distribution
- 34% of the sources lean Left, 33% of the sources are Center, 33% of the sources lean Right
34% Left
L 34%
C 33%
R 33%
Factuality
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