Tory candidate receives envelope of excrement

Katherine Fletcher says she is angry and disgusted

Police are investigating after an envelope containing faeces was posted to a Conservative campaign office.

The envelope was hand-delivered to an office in the South Ribble constituency on Thursday, and opened by a volunteer.

The Conservative candidate, Katherine Fletcher, said: “This was a disgusting attempt to stop me campaigning through intimidation, and also an attack on the very democracy I am proud to stand for in South Ribble."

A Lancashire Police spokeswoman confirmed the force was investigating.

'Horrible things'

Ms Fletcher said the excrement had been placed in a pre-paid envelope intended to return surveys, and was hand-delivered. It was discovered in the morning post by a volunteer.

The Tory candidate said the culprit, who may have thought she would be intimidated by the gesture, was "very much mistaken, and they have already failed".

She added: “I am angry that someone helping me had to open the envelope.

"But it has allowed us all here to know what is at stake when we step forward to campaign in this general election.

“It will be a big motivation, to be honest, because we want to live in a country where those who do such horrible things face the full force of the law.

“My volunteers and I will now just ignore it and continue to go out and make the case for me to carry on delivering as South Ribble’s MP, and for kind and decent behaviour in our country.”

A police spokeswoman said the matter had been reported to them and was under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call 101.

The other declared prospective parliamentary candidates for South Ribble so far are: Paul Foster, Labour; Angela Turner, Liberal Democrats; Andrew Hunter, Reform UK.