The BBC's political editor had to be given 'personal protection' during the general election campaign after abuse online, it has been claimed.

Laura Kuenssberg was apparently so badly threatened online that she was given security as she toured the country, according to The Spectator.

The journalist, who holds one of the most recognisable jobs in broadcast media, was frequently subjected to accusations of bias against Jeremy Corbyn by the Labour leader's supporters.

Many on the Right also accused Miss Kuenssberg and other BBC journalists of biased reporting ahead of the vote.

The BBC's political editor had to be given 'personal protection' during the general election campaign after abuse by Jeremy Corbyn supporters, it has been claimed

The journalist, who holds one of the most recognisable jobs in broadcast media, was frequently subjected to accusations of bias against the Labour leader by his supporters

The anger directed at Miss Kuenssberg by Corbyn's supporters erupted in January last year over her reporting of the Labour leader's botched reshuffle.

It worsened after she reported on the party's dismal performance in May's local elections in the same year.

Then last June Miss Kuenssberg was jeered by a hard-Left rabble as she tried to question Mr Corbyn.

Activists hissed and booed, while the Labour leader appeared to smirk before making a half-hearted attempt to quieten them.

Some of his supporters campaigned for the BBC to sack Miss Kuenssberg as its political editor.

A petition calling for her removal was signed by more than 35,000 in May last year, before it was taken down by campaign group 38 Degrees for attracting 'sexist and hateful' abuse towards the BBC journalist.

Another petition calling for her removal for 'gross bias' was then launched In May this year Miss Kuenssberg was booed again as she stood up to ask Mr Corbyn a question during Labour's manifesto launch.

Charles Moore wrote in The Spectator: 'Early in the campaign, Kuenssberg was assailed by Labour supporters.

The anger directed at Miss Kuenssberg by Mr Corbyn's supporters erupted in January 2016

'But later on, and in the post-election recriminations, it was Conservative supporters who were the more annoyed with her.

'Perhaps this is simply explained by the fact that Labour did better than expected and the Tories did worse.

'However, the bit the Tories haven't said in public but keep complaining about in private is that the BBC never reported that Kuenssberg was so badly threatened online by Corbyn supporters that she was given personal protection.

'They feel that this subdued her capacity to cover the contest clearly.'

He added that Tories suspected if Theresa May had possessed such thuggish fans, 'the BBC would have made a meal of it'.

Last weekend senior Labour MP Yvette Cooper said at the Fabian Society summer conference: 'Frankly I am sick to death of the vitriol poured out from all sides towards Laura Kuenssberg.

'It is her job to ask difficult questions. It is her job to be sceptical about everything we say. Nothing justifies the personal vitriol or the misogyny.'

Miss Kuenssberg and the BBC last night refused to comment.