Labour supporters have expressed outrage after one of their candidates was grabbed from behind as she attempted to debate with Boris Johnson.
Rupa Huq, Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Ealing Central and Acton, strode alongside the Mayor of London and tried to engage him in debate.
But Huq was seen to have leaflets thrust into her face and was eventually grabbed from behind by a man carrying a sign for local Conservative candidate Angie Bray.
Huq’s supporters reacted furiously to the incident.
Labour candidate for Leicester South Jonathan Ashworth tweeted: “What on earth does this bloke think he's doing to @RupaHuq ?! Is he a Tory activist?”
Dominic Dyer posted: “Dr Rupa Huq Labour Candidate for Ealing & Acton being roughed up by Boris's heavies disgusting behaviour.”
Aileen Smart said: “Why does Boris not tell the thug to get his hands off @RupaHuq?”
Jolyon Maugham tweeted: “An emblem of entitlement, this photo. @RupaHuq is assaulted by a Tory henchman for speaking truth to power.”
GENERAL ELECTION 2015
Richard Chapman added: “Forget party politics- this, of candidate Rupa Huq being dragged away from Boris Johnson today, is a shocking image.”
Ealing's Labour Party posted a video of the incident accompanied by the tweet #nastyparty.
Bray, who held the seat most recently, has since apologised for the incident.
After she was challenged by a Twitter user, Bray posted: "It was unfortunately inexcusable even in heat of the moment and I have told him to step down from my team. We apologize to Rupa.”
Ealing Central and Acton is a marginal seat, which could explain the deployment of BoJo - who has been surprisingly underused thus far by the Tories in the General Election campaign.