MP tells of 'abuse' while canvassing for election

The MP says he has faced a lot of abuse this year

An MP has told how he was chased out of areas during the 2024 General Election and even had to tell canvassers to retreat their cars.

Oliver Ryan Labour MP for Burnley spoke in the wake of a report by the Electoral Commission which said more than half of the candidates standing in this year's general election faced abuse.

Mr Ryan said he needed Home Office security for one hustings because of threats which he claimed were "unprecedented for a general election".

He added: "I was swept into the venue with security and swept out at the end without even getting a chance to speak to people."

"I had to tell canvassers it just wasn't safe [in some places] - people were trying to drive us out of their part of town," the MP said.

He added the campaign was "very aggressive all the way through".

Mr Ryan said people filmed him on their phones and drove past him in their cars.

He added: "People were threatened for being engaged in politics which should never be the case."