Respect and Labour thugs in Tower Hamlets stand outside polling stations on the day of an election, harassing and intimidating both voters and candidates. Mass-fraud is already suspected. Voting on local issues has been replaced by a growing tendency to show allegiance to sectarian and tribal affiliations.

Mr Smith said he was too frightened to stay at the polling station. “It’s not right that people are being  harassed,” he added.

 

Caroline Kerswell, the Tory candidate in the Weaver ward’s by-election, witnessed the altercation. She said: “We were standing here discussing electoral rules with them, then one guy threatened to punch his lights out.

“They’ve been here since early in the morning and they’re very intimidating. People coming to vote are nervous. We want a clean election in Tower Hamlets because of the reports of corruption.”

When it's got to the point that police feel compelled to call in reinforcements, you know it's already a crisis.More >>