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Iain Duncan Smith complains about 'Tory cuts kill' slogan sprayed on campaign HQ

Former Conservative leader calls on opposition candidates to condemn 'such intimidation and criminal behaviour'

Kate Ng
Monday 25 November 2019 19:36 GMT
'Tory cuts kill' sprayed on door of Iain Duncan Smith's office in Chingford and Woodford Green
'Tory cuts kill' sprayed on door of Iain Duncan Smith's office in Chingford and Woodford Green (@MPIainDS on Twitter)

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Iain Duncan Smith has complained about the behaviour of “democracy-hating thugs” after his campaign headquarters were vandalised.

The former Conservative Party leader took to Twitter to vent and posted photos on Monday morning from his constituency office in Chingford and Woodford Green.

Photos show the words ‘Tories out’ and ‘Tory cuts kill’ sprayed across the door and window of the Chingford and Woodford Green Conservatives Association.

He called for opposition candidates to condemn the “intimidation and criminal behaviour” and added that it would not stop his team from campaigning.

Mr Duncan Smith told the Evening Standard that the incident is the latest in a string of threats, including death threats, that he and his family have received in recent months.

He called those who make such threats "absolute morons" and added that it is "appalling that some people think they can shut down democracy".

After posting about the graffiti, he also criticised an individual who was filmed by Young Conservatives representative Has Ahmed while he campaigned in East London.

Ahmed posted the video on Twitter in which a man he described as a "hostile and aggressive" followed him while he was campaigning.

Mr Duncan Smith called the man's behaviour "disgraceful" and reiterated that opposition candidates should condemn "intimidation".

Labour’s Faiza Shaheen, who is standing against Mr Duncan Smith in Chingford and Woodford Green, took to Twitter to agree with him and show solidarity.

She tweeted a photo of a Brexit Party poster pasted on the window of her office in the constituency, and added: “We have also been subject to intimidation and threats, including on the office and dodgy men following me. It’s not on.”

The Independent has contacted the Met Police for comment.

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