POLITICIANS have urged the public to remember they are just human beings after abuse and aggression on the campaign trail.

Southend’s former deputy Conservative group leader James Courtenay claims abuse is increasing, especially online, as others point out the violence and vitriol must stop.

Mr Courtenay stood for Southend Council in the Blenheim ward election yesterday.

He said: “You don’t have to look very far on my Twitter feed for the abuse I get.

“I’m accused of being many things such as getting bungs and being thick.

“I even have massive Labour posters and billboards put up opposite my house only because I live there.

“Whilst most of the abuse is online, it does have to be remembered that there are human beings at the receiving end of this abuse.

“Fortunately, I am quite thick skinned – my wife doesn’t like it, but she’s as tough as old boots.”

While he stressed that the abuse comes from a “small minority”, he added that sometimes the problems do “spill out into the real world”.

While on the election trail he has had four letter expletives hurled at him in the street, sometimes with reference to Brexit, and election leaflets have been thrown back in his face.

Similar abuse has been experienced by Labour candidate Colin Nickless, who stood for election for the council this year.

He said: “I had an incident with a member of the public where I put a leaflet through a door and they came out of their house, screwed it up and threw it at me, then said some nasty comments.

“I walked away as it is best not to engage in that sort of thing, but I suspect it was Brexit motivated.

“I’ve also seen a lot of anger directed at politicians for being all the same and anger about police, crime and forgetting the community.

“For someone who is not even part of the council yet, it can be shocking when it is directed at you yet you have no responsibility for decisions.

“Brexit doesn’t help, I think if that had been resolved one way or another things would be better.”

However others claimed the reception has been positive.

Mr Courtenay was set to become the leader of the Southend Conservatives but lost his seat in the Blenheim ward election yesterday.