Bermondsey by-election 1983: homophobia, hatred, smears and xenophobia

[Peter Tatchell, Labour candidate (30 years ago) and openly homosexual:] I was deluged with hate mail, death threats, attacks on my flat and more than 100 physical bashings. I went to sleep at night with a fire extinguisher, carving knife and large stick by my bed. I was vulnerable, yet the police refused me protection. I felt powerless to get media redress. The Press Council was useless. It sat on my complaints for months. At the start of the campaign, polls put me on 47 per cent, with the eventual victor, Simon Hughes, on less than 20 per cent. By election day, after weeks of media abuse, the levels had almost reversed. Simon romped home.

source: Article 'Bermondsey by-election 1983: homophobia, hatred, smears and xenophobia' by Peter Tatchell; Other part of the article by other candidate from then Simon Hughes; www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/bermondsey-byelection-1983-homophobia-hatred-smears-and-xenophobia-8508258.html; The Independent; 24 February 2015