These are the appalling scenes captured by Newsnight and photographer Chip Somodevilla in which a Labour MP candidate (pint-sized sociology lecturer Rupa Huq) has leaflets shoved in her face and is grabbed from behind by both arms — simply for engaging Boris Johnson as he campaigned in the London marginal of Ealing Central and Acton.

Local Tory MP Angie Bray can clearly be seen grinning in the background, doing nothing whatsoever to restrain her own campaigners.

While Boris claimed not to know that Huq was Labour’s parliamentary candidate in the constituency, the same cannot be said for those grappling with her.

The grabbing-both-of-your-arms was performed by the Tories former deputy chairman Karim Sacoor, who looked to be marshalling Boris’ visit.

The leaflets-in-your-face were courtesy of Ealing Broadway councillor Seema Kumar:

Perhaps Angie Bray can explain what she found so amusing.