Labour MP calls in specialist police after ‘sledgehammer attack’ on his home just one day after general election result

A Labour MP has denounced the “toxicity” of British politics after some “idiots” allegedly attacked his house with a “sledgehammer” last night.

Andrew Western, who was re-elected in Stretford and Urmston in Greater Manchester on Friday, said the incident was being investigated by police from Operation Bridger – a team focused on the safety of elected representatives.

The MP, elected in 2011, said that “nobody was hurt,” but added that “harassment, intimidation and insults against politicians are not okay and not normal.”

Nevertheless, he swore He called on voters “not to be intimidated” by the perpetrators, but to acknowledge what MPs “have to endure more and more often”.

He wrote on social media: “I have debated whether to post this but I am sorry to say: there was an incident at my home last night which is being investigated by the police as part of Operation Bridger.”

“I am absolutely fine and no one was hurt, but the toxicity of our current politics needs to be brought to light. The bullying, intimidation and abuse of politicians is not okay and is not normal.

Click here to resize this module

“However, it is becoming more common. I am proud to represent the people of Stretford and Urmston and I will not be intimidated as I seek to serve them to the best of my ability.”

“I want to thank GMP for their excellent response and say that these idiots do not speak for our community and I will do everything I can to make sure they never do,” he added.

When someone suggested that the incident was probably just a “joke,” he angrily replied, “I’ll tell you that when someone comes to your property with a sledgehammer.”

“At some point people will realise what MPs are increasingly having to endure,” he added.

At the time, his colleague and Labour MP Jess Phillips spoke about the “pretty brutal” election campaign she had to endure to retain her seat in Birmingham Yardley.

The politician, who narrowly lost her seat to an independent by 693 votes, said one of her volunteers was “shouted at by a much older man” and had her tires slashed during the campaign.

In the face of escalating violence during the six-week election campaign, she also refused help from the family of murdered MP Jo Cox and did not allow her children to be present at the vote count in the early hours of Friday morning.

Click here to resize this module

When Ms Phillips’ majority was announced and she gave her victory speech – in which she claimed it was “the worst election campaign I have ever been in” – she was booed and chants of “Free Palestine”.

This sparked an angry response from the MP, who shouted back: “I understand that a strong woman standing up to you would be met with such reticence,” before pointing at her and saying: “Can you throw her out?”

When asked about the incident on LBC this morning, Ms Phillips was still visibly angry about the “aggression” she suffered after the vote count and during canvassing.

She said on the show: “These people wanted to help the people of Gaza. It would be too easy to call this cult crime. People really want me to announce that the people who shouted and insulted me were Muslim men.”

“The fact that they were men is actually quite significant to me. The fact that they were Muslims is not significant because there are Muslims in my constituency who did not behave in that way.”

“These people were idiots. They didn’t do it because they were Muslims, they did it because they were idiots and they wanted something for themselves, and they took advantage of a terrible tragedy to get it.”

The MP added that those who were cracking down on her so harshly – and sometimes aggressively – were doing so to “drive content” on social media apps like TikTok.

“It was all about getting the message out there so that these people weren’t ashamed of their behavior. They did it, filmed themselves and put it online,” Ms Phillips added.

“When Sadiq Khan came on, masked men – I won’t say what they said because it’s a family show – were shouting things about Sadiq Khan’s mother and they have no shame. They put it on the internet to incite other people to do the same.”

Click here to resize this module

Earlier this year, a £75 million spending package was unveiled to improve protection for MPs at Westminster.

Three female MPs have also been provided with taxpayer-funded bodyguards as fear of female politicians grows. It is not known whether all three were re-elected last week.

The unnamed trio, which includes Tory and Labour MPs, are said to have private security and chauffeur-driven cars normally reserved for senior Cabinet ministers. Other MPs have also turned to former SAS officers for protection.

In addition, following the murder of MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, hundreds of constituency consultations were guarded by private security guards.

Tory MP Mike Freer even announced his resignation as MP after describing an arson attack on his constituency office on Christmas Eve as “the straw that broke the camel’s back”.

Paul Harwood, 42, has been charged with wilful arson after a shed at the former Attorney General’s office in Ballards Lane, North Finchley, was set alight on Christmas Eve last year.

MailOnline has contacted Mr Western and Greater Manchester Police.