I have just been told that two female Labour volunteers were knocked to the ground in a scuffle in Poplar after they were attacked by two men in Prescott masks. Their identities were allegedly subsequently revealed as Tory council candidates, one of whom is allegedly called Martin Coxall, who is now in police custody.
From a Labour source:
Two men barged the crowd around John Prescott in Poplar on his walkabout and hit one of our female volunteers and knocked her to the ground and barged another female volunteer knocking her to the ground. Their masks were pulled off and they are Tory council candidates. One of the men is Martin Coxall who was taken away in hand-cuffs by the police.
From John Prescott on Twitter:
Tory council candidate in Poplar Martin Coxall attacked two women in scuffle trying to get me. Expect this from BNP not Tories
UPDATE: Labour's local candidate for Poplar and Limehouse, Jim Fitzpatrick has said: ''This was appalling and disgraceful behaviour by two of David Cameron's Conservative candidates who acted like hooligans. This kind of behaviour has no place in British politics and I will be writing to David Cameron to ask him to take appropriate action.''
James Macintyre @'New Statesman'