PA • GETTY Yvette Cooper has condemned vitriolic attacks by her party’s supporters on Theresa May

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Senior Tories fear serious abuse, including death threats, will put off talented candidates from standing for Parliament. It came as a former Labour leadership contender Yvette Cooper condemned vitriolic attacks by her party’s supporters on Conservative politicians. No 10 has pledged to probe abuse at the General Election after complaints by Tories.

People need to be prosecuted or else we will have a real problem Minister

One minister said: “People need to be prosecuted or else we will have a real problem... to convince good people, especially women, to stand to become an MP.” He said the law may need to be bolstered to deal with the it. On Friday, Theresa May called for the abuse to be stamped out, just days after the problem had been discussed by her cabinet.

And yesterday, Ms Cooper told the Fabian Society in London: “We’ve seen Labour supporters at rallies holding placards with the severed head of Theresa May. “Maybe it was meant as a joke. It isn’t funny.” She also condemned as “utterly shameful” abuse aimed at Liverpool Wavertree MP Luciana Berger, now on maternity leave.

PA No 10 has pledged to probe abuse at the General Election after complaints by Tories

PA Mrs May has called for Jeremy Corbyn to tackle harassment too

On Friday the Prime Minister pledged to tackle the harassment of MPs, but challenged Mr Corbyn to do more to help. She said: “We need all party leaders to condemn this bullying, harassment and intimidation.” A spokesman for Mr Corbyn said: “Jeremy has always condemned abuse and personal attacks and never engages in them."

GETTY Tory MP for South East Cornwall Sheryll Murray has been harassed with swastikas carved into posters