MPs have said they are living in “genuine fear” after they received death threats and abuse during the general election campaign.

Theresa May has ordered a No 10 policy unit review into the issue, inviting MPs to share details of their experiences as “evidence gathering”.

Cabinet held a discussion earlier this week about intimidating electoral practises after the issue was raised by Andrea Leadsom, leader of the House of Commons.

Former Conservative MP Byron Davies, 64, received two death threats online a few weeks before the election, in which he lost his Gower seat.

He was threatened with being “strung up” if he showed his face again in a particular area, he told The Sunday Telegraph.

A female candidate in her 30s, who was running for a safe Labour seat, said attacks on social media left her feeling “genuine fear”.

“It has made me think whether I really want to be an MP,” she said.

Tory MP Nigel Evans described a “new low in campaigning” after he was screamed at by a man in the New Inn pub in Clitheroe on St George’s day.

“You are a terrorist, child murderer, go back to Swansea, you are not welcome here,” he was told.

Earlier this week, Sarah Wollaston, Conservative MP for Totnes in Devon, told The Guardian she felt she was being “forced out of town” by abusive words on her office building.

General Election 2017: Big beasts who lost their seats Show all 7 1 /7 General Election 2017: Big beasts who lost their seats General Election 2017: Big beasts who lost their seats Nick Clegg Picture By Darren O'Brien/Guzelian Picture Shows Former MP, Nick Clegg delivers a speech despite losing the Sheffield Hallam Seat. Labour candidate, Jared O'Mara (Front), defeats Nick Clegg to take the Sheffield Hallam seat. picture taken 08/06/2017 Darren O'Brien General Election 2017: Big beasts who lost their seats Gavin Barwell LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 07: Gavin Barwell MP arrives at Number 10 Downing Street on October 7, 2013 in London, England. British Prime Minister David Cameron announced a Government reshuffle today. (Photo by Oli Scarff/Getty Images) Getty General Election 2017: Big beasts who lost their seats Angus Robertson General Election 2017: Big beasts who lost their seats Nicola Blackwood PA General Election 2017: Big beasts who lost their seats Alex Salmond PA General Election 2017: Big beasts who lost their seats Rob Wilson Mandatory Credit: Photo by Geoffrey Swaine/REX (1096138i) Rob Wilson, Conservative MP for Reading Funeral of Murdered Student Asha Muneer at Rivermead Leisure Centre, Reading, Britain - 28 Jan 2010 Rex Features General Election 2017: Big beasts who lost their seats Ben Gummer Minister for the Cabinet Office Ben Gummer arriving at 10 Downing Street, London for the weekly cabinet meeting. PA

But she insisted Labour MPs had suffered worse abuse.

Twitter trolls have been convicted for death threats to Angela Eagle, Stella Creasy and Luciana Berger.

Nimco Ali, a candidate for the Women’s Equality party, was sent a letter threatening her life and signed “Jo Cox”.

The first Conservative MP to speak out was 61-year-old widow Sheryll Murray, who talked at PMQs two weeks ago about receiving death threats and having her door urinated on.

“Hardly kinder, gentler politics,” she said of the behaviour.