Tees Valley Mayor tells of chainsaw death threats

Mr Houchen told BBC Politics North he felt police needed to be “firmer” about abuse suffered by politicians.

He added:”I mean you can talk about free speech but ultimately, if we want a democracy where people are able to share different ideas in a civil manner, we need to have enforcement.”

He said: “I’ve had people threatening to cut me up with a chainsaw.

“I’ve had Special Branch knock on my door late at night because of a credible threat against my personal safety,” he said.

“My wife answers the door and is absolutely petrified about what might or might not happen.”

Meanwhile, new Labour MP Lewis Atkinson said it was “sobering” to receive a panic alarm on his first day of the job and Liberal Democrat candidate Natalie Younes said she had also suffered harassment and online abuse.