Tory MP reveals people were told to 'stab' her during General Election

A Tory MP has revealed swastikas were daubed on her posters and people were urged to "stab" her during the General Election.

Sheryll Murray, who was re-elected as MP for South East Cornwall earlier this month, told the Commons of the "intimidation" she suffered in the run-up to the 8 June vote.

She suggested "good people" may be put off standing for election to Parliament unless action is taken.

During Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, Ms Murray said: "Over the past months I've had swastikas carved into posters, social media posts like 'burn the witch' and 'stab the c'.

"People put Labour Party posters on my home, photographed them and pushed them through my letter box. And someone even urinated on my office door."

Ms Murray claimed the abuse she suffered during the General Election campaign "hardly" represented "kinder, gentler, politics" - a slogan of Labour's Jeremy Corbyn when he stood for the leadership of his party.

In response, Theresa May told Ms Murray she was "absolutely right" to highlight her concerns.

The Prime Minister said: "She is not the only person who experienced this sort of intimidation during the election campaign.

"Particularly, I'm sorry to say, this sort of intimidation was experienced by female candidates during the election campaign.

"I believe this sort of behaviour has no place in our democracy and I think she's right, I think it could put good people off from serving in this House.

"We want more people to become engaged, more people to want to stand for election to this House."

Mrs May urged MPs to recall the words of Jo Cox, the late Labour MP to whom a commemorative plaque has now been installed inside the Commons chamber.

"We should all remember what Jo said: 'We are far more united and have far more in common with each other than the things which divides us,'" the PM added.

During the General Election campaign, Ms Murray asked an aide to call police after being heckled at a hustings event.

The Conservative MP was booed after telling an audience she was "really pleased" there were food banks in her constituency.