Green leader Benali Hamdache said ‘a few people shout and swear when I introduce myself’

POLITICAL campaigners have told of the torrent of abuse they have experienced on the doorsteps, in what they describe as the “angriest” election of the past three decades.

Canvassers and door-knockers revealed this week how they have been faced with racist insults and homophobic abuse as they try to rally votes ahead of the local elections next month.

While out on the streets of Islington, they have reported hate crimes, with several candidates from minority backgrounds saying residents have told them to “go home” or used derogatory slurs against them.

The campaigners – from across the political spectrum – argued that the “hateful language” had been spurred on by the likes of Nigel Farage and Tommy Robinson, who they say have made it more acceptable for people to openly hurl racial abuse.

“What I’ve experienced takes me right back to when I was a child in the 80s, when I would get spat on by the National Front on Chapel Market”, said Cllr Saiqa Pandor, who is standing for Labour in St Mary’s and St James’.

“As a Muslim women wearing a hijab, I stand out anyway. When I’m door-knocking people say to me blatantly that they will vote for my other two colleagues but not me. People shout at you, they say ‘Do you speak English? What are you doing on my doorstep?’”

Cllr Jilani Chowdhury – who has sat in the Town Hall for two decades – recalled similar incidents. He told the Tribune: “Sometimes people say ‘I’m not going to vote for a brown man’. Some­times people use the word P***. Since 2006, it has become much more toxic. You may not agree with everything I’m doing, but it’s better to have a civil discussion and when people are aggressive it’s really difficult.”

Ilkay Cinko-Oner, who is standing for the Islington Community Independents (ICI) in Laycock, added that the level of abuse had made her “scared”.

“I will not knock on doors where I see visible St George’s flags, since the flag has been weaponised”, she said. “I avoid knocking on those doors and that’s a shame. I’ve never been threatened by the St George’s flag before.”

Ilkay Cinko-Oner

Meanwhile, on Sunday, two Labour councillors reported an incident of homophobic abuse, where a group of men had approached them and started shouting slurs before attacking the community centre they were standing in front of.

They told the Tribune how it had left them shaken. Cllr Heather Staff said: “This was the first time we thought we might be in trouble. We’ve been in some difficult situations on the door, you meet very vulnerable people with psychosis, but never have I felt threatened like that.”

She told how another Labour candidate had recently been told “you should be burnt alive” at the doorstep.

“This rhetoric is really not acceptable,” Cllr Staff said. “Partly, I think social media has given rise to it because you are given a diet of it. What used to be ‘I can just type anonymously on my phone’ has become ‘oh, I can now say it or I can do it’. I don’t think it matters what political party you are in, you’re going to get yelled at or abused”.

The campaigners we spoke to told of an amping up of intimidation, with people feeling emboldened to abuse those arriving on their doorstep.

Green leader Benali Hamdache described this election as “angrier” than before and said “a few people shout and swear when I introduce myself”.

He added: “People do feel more polarised and sadly sometimes door-knockers have faced abuse. We are pro-accountability, but when it does become abusive it’s too much and it’s dangerous. Hateful language isn’t acceptable for any party and it puts people off. Doorstep conversations are a key part of our democracy, but if volunteers face unsafe environments, it just won’t happen.”

Councillors told of how they were issued panic buttons by police several months ago, and those who are the most vulnerable to racist abuse say they will never go door-knocking alone and always share their location.

Cllr Heather Staff

“It used to be for local government, it was all potholes, dog poo, schools, but now it’s suddenly something much bigger, which actually – quite a lot of it – is out of our control,” added Cllr Staff. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen it at a local election like this. You kind of feel like you just have to be strong, but why should I be strong? Why should I have to face constant threat or constant worry.”

A Local Government Association spokesperson said that 75 per cent of councillors across the country had reported feeling personally at risk in their role last year. Meanwhile, 80 per cent of female councillors reported having experienced abuse or intimidation in their role.

“While robust challenge, scrutiny and debate are essential to a healthy democracy, no one should have to accept intimidation, abuse or threats as part of public service.”

The spokesperson added: “Moving forwards, the government, councils, police, representative bodies and social media companies must work together to develop a national strategy to tackle the abuse of public figures, aligning existing initiatives, improving information sharing and providing practical resources to protect those in public life.”

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “It’s vital that the democratic process is not undermined. We will deal robustly with those involved in attacking or harassing candidates for election. Through the national Operation Ford programme, our officers are running personal safety briefings for local council candidates.

These dedicated officers also work with candidates to identify concerns they might have about their safety and help investigate crimes against them.”