Former independent councillor Stephen Aylen told Sky News' Adam Boulton how he has endured human excrement being thrown at him and numerous physical attacks from members of the public simply for doing his job. He claimed social media has played a pivotal role in sparking the surge in abuse politicians face.

       Speaking to Sky News, Mr Aylen said: "I've had human excrement thrown at me.

       “I’ve been pushed up against a wall, threatened and punched.

       "These things never happened in the past.

       "It was all gentlemanly and fair play."

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       The councillor added: "It's social media, the attitude of being nice to people who have done things wrong.”

       He claimed how “there seems to be a lack of discipline” in the UK in today’s world.

       Mr Aylen added: “We're growing up in a snowflake society.

       "You look back even 10 years and it was a different situation."

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       The comments come as Boris Johnson, Home Secretary Priti Patel, Labour party leader Sir Keir Starmer and House of Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle visited Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea on Saturday, where Sir David Amess was stabbed to death, to pay their respects.

       The group laid flowers and gave tributes to the veteran politician outside the Church before being escorted from the scene by police.

       While speaking at Southend Police Station, the Home Secretary said: "We will carry on, we live in an open society, a democracy.

       "We cannot be cowed by any individual or any motivation... to stop us from functioning, to serve our elected democracy."

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       Sir David, 69, who had been an MP since 1983, was fatally injured while meeting constituents at his regular constituency surgery.

       A 25-year-old man arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder is in custody at an Essex police station.

       Official sources told the PA news agency the man is believed to be a British national with Somali heritage.

       Sir David Amess served as Member of Parliament for Southend West from 1997 until 2021.