Female candidate to lead Unite union faced ‘disgraceful abuse’

Sharon Graham says troll accounts targeted her after she refused to quit the race to replace Len McCluskey as general secretary

The only woman running to be the next leader of the powerful Unite union has revealed that she received disgraceful" online abuse for refusing to stand aside for two more prominent male rivals.

Sharon Graham, who has attracted an unexpected level of grassroots support, said she experienced a rough ride" after refusing to end her campaign. She said troll accounts had mocked up pictures of her as Margaret Thatcher, and she had warned her family that she might lose her job because of the row.