General election 2019: Vandals burn down election placard of MP candidate at her parents’ home The traditionally Conservative constituency is experiencing its closest race for Westminster in decades

Vandals have burned down an election placard at the home of a general election candidate’s parents in a sign of escalating tensions in the race for a traditionally safe Conservative seat.

Claire Wright, an independent candidate for the constituency of East Devon, is in with a fighting chance of ousting the Tories, who have held the seat at every election since 1868.

Ms Wright labelled it a “very deliberate and very aggressive act”, while her parents Lyn and George Bradford said they were “shaken” when they discovered someone had set one of the placards ablaze on Sunday night, leaving them to discover ashes the following morning.

The i politics newsletter cut through the noise Email address is invalid Email address is invalid Thank you for subscribing! Sorry, there was a problem with your subscription.

The local councillor is fighting her third general election in the seat, which was held by Sir Hugo Swire until he decided to step down at this election. Ms Wright is now polling almost neck and neck with the new Conservative candidate Simon Jupp, a former adviser to Foreign Secretary Dominc Raab.

‘Deliberately targeted’

Ms Wright’s mother Lyn said: “We do feel we were probably deliberately targeted. A lot of people know we’re Claire’s parents around here. We clearly can’t be sure who is responsible, but another of Claire’s boards just a few minutes down the road from us was also burned, but one supporting the Conservatives right next door to us was left untouched. It does leave you a bit shaken.”

Ms Wright’s father, George, added: “It could have been far worse. The sign was next to our beech hedge, and if it had been more dry the whole thing could easily have gone up in flames. The hedge was charred, but luckily didn’t catch properly.”

Mr Bradford, who said the incident had been reported to the police, added he had also had to replace far more signs at this election, compared to the previous two his daughter had fought.

Ms Wright said that while many more signs were being ripped down at this election, this was the first time any had been set alight.

“Setting my boards on fire seems to me like a very deliberate and very aggressive act,” she said. “That it happened to my parents seems to be an attempt at intimidation. To scare people closest to me. I’m disgusted. Fortunately my parents are made of strong stuff and this has made them, and me, all the more determined.”

Tory condemns arson attack

Mr Jupp also condemned the arson attack on his opponent’s signs.

“This is a disgraceful act and I hope whoever is responsible is caught and feels the full weight of the law. My thoughts are with the family,” he said.

Another local resident also reported an incident outside her home in Exmouth to police last week. The resident, who asked not to be named, said two men wearing black clothing and black hoods ran away as she confronted them outside her home after discovering them tearing down a sign supporting the independent candidate.

Fake news allegations

The deliberate destruction of Ms Wright’s campaign signs is not the only issue to have angered her supporters. Many have complained about what they claim are “fake newspapers” and “fake lifestyle magazines” that have been posted through thousands of local homes in support of Mr Jupp.

In response to the criticism over the publications, which state they are from the Conservatives in small print, Mr Jupp said: “This type of literature is commonly used by parties up and down the country and meets all the relevant laws and guidelines.”

The Liberal Democrats have also been criticised over their use of the ‘newspapers’ during the election.

The Society of Newspaper Editors questioned whether such publications should be legal.

Ian Murray, executive director at the Society, said: “It is time the practice was brought to an end, for the sake of local newspapers but also, I would contend, for the sake of local politics. The public are not fooled for long and will not forgive politicians who attempt to take them for mugs.”