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A Tory peer turned the air blue in the House of Lords tonight by uttering the C-word - for what is thought to be the first time in the chamber's history.

Baroness Jenkin of Kennington, whose husband Bernard is a Brexit -backing MP, was warning fellow peers about abuse experienced by parliamentary candidates in the run up to the election.

The 62-year-old told the Lords in a cut-glass accent: "I quote - and please, my Lords, forgive the unparliamentary language and block your ears if you are sensitive or easily offended - yelling 'f*****g Tory c**t.'"

It is thought to be the first time the C-word has been uttered in the recorded history of the House of Lords chamber.

The Mirror could find no references to the word on Hansard records since 1803, except several mentions of Scunthorpe and a few mis-spellings of "per cent".

The f-word has, however, been mentioned in the Commons and Lords chambers with the earliest recorded mention by Denis Wellesley in July 1964.

He was explaining in relation to an obscene publications crackdown that "dirty words are not in fact intrinsically dirty" and lawyers' notes once had a note on them saying they were "Forced Unlawful Carnal Knowledge."

(Image: Parliament live)

MPs have used the C-word accidentally in the House of Commons over the years.

In January 2000 Labour MP John Spellar, when he was a Junior Defence Minister, mispronounced his declaration that “these cuts in defence medical spending have gone too far.”

Tory former policing minister also said the word accidentally when he mis-pronounced "I don't accept that those are cuts to frontline policing".

Tonight Baroness Jenkin said the abuse was received by Ealing Central and Acton Conservative candidate Joy Morrissey.

"She was met daily outside her home by a large group of Momentum and Labour activists yelling at her," the peer said.

"My Lords, this young woman has a young child. How can this be acceptable? And how does this not deter other mothers from stepping up?”

She went on to claim volunteers working with the candidate were frequently spat at.

And she claimed an “Asian activist” was told that she deserved “to have her throat slit and be in the ground for being a Conservative.”

She added: “Standing for election and public office for whatever party should be recognised and celebrated as a noble, honourable and responsible action to take.”

She claimed the abusive behaviour was “fuelled by the anonymity social media platforms provide.”