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Protesters who disrupted a speech by Tory Jacob Rees-Mogg would face up to 12 months in jail under a new law proposed by Theresa May.

On Tuesday the PM will unveil plans to create a new offence of intimidation in public life in a speech to mark 100 years of votes for women.

She will say: “British democracy has always been robust and oppositional but a line is crossed when disagreement mutates into intimidation.”

The new law, due to come in early next year, will also cover threats made on social media.

(Image: PA)

(Image: SWNS- Cambridge)

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Intimidating parliamentary candidates will be an offence and council candidates will no longer have their addresses published on ballot papers, bringing them into line with prospective MPs.

Backbench Brexiteer Mr Rees-Mogg was caught up in a scuffle on Friday when a group of Bristol anti-fascists burst into a meeting at West of England University.

Last week Claire Kober, Labour leader of London’s Haringey Council, dramatically quit claiming bullying and sexism by Jeremy Corbyn supporters.

(Image: PA)

And Labour bigwig Angela Eagle had her Wallasey, Merseyside, constituency office vandalised when she challenged Mr Corbyn for the Labour leadership in 2016.

Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott has complained of rape and death threats and both online and offline racial abuse.

Mr Rees-Mogg was unhurt in Friday’s fracas.

He said: “People who don’t agree with me wanted to make their point, and I don’t object to this. We live in a free society and freedom of speech is very important.”

Police are investigating but no arrests have been made.