Yvette Cooper says ‘disgraceful scenes’ of election candidate abuse must end

Ministers will meet to address what home secretary calls an alarming rise in intimidation of politicians

An alarming rise in candidate intimidation during the UK's general election campaign will be addressed next week at a meeting of ministers and civil servants, the home secretary has said.

Yvette Cooper said there had been disgraceful scenes" in some areas in the run-up to the 4 July vote, as she announced she would chair a meeting of the defending democracy taskforce.