UK elections watchdog calls for action to tackle candidate intimidation

Electoral Commission finds four in 10 candidates in Great Britain suffered abuse, intimidation or threats during May's local ballots

About four in 10 candidates for May's local elections in England, Scotland and Wales reported suffering abuse, threats or intimidation, rising to more than seven in 10 in Northern Ireland, the UK's elections watchdog has found.

Responses received by the Electoral Commission from more than 1,000 candidates uncovered what the organisation called alarming levels of such behaviour, saying ministers needed to take urgent action to address the situation.