Man arrested after Rochdale by-election candidate receives alleged 'serious death threats'

A man has been arrested for allegedly sending "online threats" to the Reform UK candidate in the upcoming Rochdale by-election.

The 23-year-old was arrested just after 7pm on 26 February, on suspicion of malicious communications.

Just an hour beforehand, Reform UK party leader Richard Tice sent a letter to Greater Manchester Police (GMP), in which he said he "fears for [the] safety" of candidate Simon Danczuk's campaign team.

According to Reform UK, Mr Danczuk has had threats "posted on his campaign page" and written directly to him.

Mr Tice said the threats were "absolutely outrageous and unacceptable in a democracy".

He also claimed that Simon Danczuk's campaign had been "bedevilled by threats and intimidation", and expects "Greater Manchester Police to provide a proper level of security" for the campaign team, including on polling day and during the election count.

Superintendent Lucy Smallwood, of GMP's Rochdale district, said: "We understand incidents like this can be concerning but the victim and the public should be reassured that we've made an arrest.

"In anticipation of the by-election, we had already put increased patrols in place."

The by-election was prompted by the death of Sir Tony Lloyd in January.

A total of 11 candidates are on the ballot for the by-election on 29 February.

The full list of candidates standing are:

• Azhar Ali, Labour Party

• Mark Coleman, Independent

• Simon Danczuk, Reform UK

• Iain Donaldson, Liberal Democrats

• Paul Ellison, The Conservative Party Candidate

• George Galloway, Workers Party of Britain

• Michael Howarth, Independent

• William Howarth, Independent

• Guy Otten, Green Party

• Ravin Subortna, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party

• David Tully, Independent

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