'Tory cuts kill' graffiti painted on Conservative office

An ex-Conservative leader has hit out after his local party association office was vandalised with spray paint saying “Tory cuts kill”.

Iain Duncan Smith, who is seeking re-election in Chingford and Woodford Green, in north-east London, posted pictures of the graffiti online, promising that it would not put him off campaigning and urging opposition candidates to condemn it.

The message about cuts was daubed across a door while a window has been brandished with “Tories out”.

His Labour opponent has criticised the paint and said she has also been a victim of “intimidation and threats”.

Mr Duncan Smith, who led the Tories between 2001 and 2003, described the vandals as “democracy-hating thugs”.

Labour candidate Dr Faiza Shaheen, who is hoping to win the seat that Mr Duncan Smith has held since it was created in 1997, said she too had been intimidated and “dodgy men” had followed her.

She also posted a picture of a Brexit Party sticker placed over one of her posters on the window of the constituency’s Labour association office.

MPs have spoken out about abuse and intimidation they have suffered during their time in politics.

Earlier this month, Labour’s Luke Pollard was targeted by graffiti for a second time, and he offered to sit down with the vandals to talk with them.

A number of MPs have decided to stand down in this election, with prominent politicians like Heidi Allen citing the abuse they have received as their main reason for calling time on their parliamentary careers.

Last week’s ITV debate between party leaders Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn featured a handshake as a gesture to “improve the nature of debate in this country” when prompted by host Julie Etchingham.