Analysis by PoliMonitor, a political technology company, showed that candidates received abuse or insulting remarks in 16.5 per cent of mentions or replies about them on Twitter, that’s about one in six tweets.

The research analysed 139,564 tweets sent on November 11 2019 which either mentioned or replied to the 2,503 candidates standing in the 2019 General Election who are on Twitter.

Dr Cameron, who has retained her seat in East Kilbride, said last week one of her own campaign leaflets was scrawled with a swastika and posted through her door.

She also said she was subject to much abuse online following her vote against lifting Northern Ireland’s abortion ban in July, and even feared deselection over the issue.

In an interview with Premier about her win, she said: “It just goes to show how difficult politics has become. I was thinking about it last night during the result, how the abuse in politics must put people off entering into politics at all.

“And that’s such a bad thing for democracy. We need people from all different backgrounds and faiths to enter politics and to reflect the society that we have.”

The report comes after more than 50 MPs chose not to contest the General Election, with four female politicians citing issues of bullying as their reason for standing down.

PoliMonitor’s research showed that party…

Actors playing Mary and Joseph arrived by donkey in a bid to “birth” the Christmas message of “healing and hope” to the nation by bringing it to the doors of parliament.

Bringing peace and prayer to Parliament square today #GeneralElection2019 @WintershallPlay @rcwestminster@dioceseoflondon @BBCNews @SkyNewsBreak @KleeCharlotte @premierradio@biblesociety@_interfaith_@bishopangaelos pic.twitter.com/nDMljTiI52

— Wintershall Play (@WintershallPlay) December 13, 2019

Wintershall education officer Lucy Hall told Premier: “Christmas is about Mary and Joseph and their donkey looking for a safe place to give birth…to Jesus, the one who brings hope and healing to us all.

“We have humbly trudged with our donkey to the very heart of influence in our country; to knock on the doors of Parliament – to see if there is any room at the inn.”

The biblical drama company took time to pray for families and communities across the country, with the hope that the “joy of Jesus’ birth may echo in each and every home in this land.”

Wintershall have been producing open air shows depicting the life of Jesus since 1989.

The company’s next nativity performance runs from 18-20th December at the Wintershall estate.

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The party won 48 seats after securing 45 per cent of the vote, 8.1 per cent more than in the last general election in 2017, when it won 35 seats.

The Church of Scotland Rev Dr Richard Frazer, convener of the Kirk’s Church and Society Council said: “This general election has been one of the most challenging of modern times, with the UK poised on the brink of exiting from the EU. The political logjam of the last few years has not been so much a failure of parliament to move forward, but more of a reflection of the way in which the country has been divided almost down the middle over the issue of Brexit.

“Now that there is a clear path forward and an opportunity for the process of Brexit to begin, it will take many more months of negotiation and disentangling properly to “get Brexit done”.

“In the process, we believe that the polarisation of the country over the last few years will not be readily healed and many people throughout the UK will feel that their voice has not been heard. The patterns of voting we have seen across the country reflect the reality that many people feel let down and frustrated that a country of such wealth as ours still has poverty and many struggle to make ends meet. With the country so closely split, and the people of Scotland having voted so very differently, much remains unresolved.

“It will require considerable grace, generosity and…

The Charity Commission said it has opened an inquiry into SPAC Nation to probe financial and safeguarding concerns.

The commission, which describes the London church as a charity set up to “advance Christianity” that works particularly with young people, has ordered it to bank all cash while the investigation takes place.

The news comes after HuffPost UK reported allegations that some members of the church had been taking teenagers to donate blood for medical trials in a practice known as “bleeding for seed”.

The church, which denies the claims, has previously been praised by politicians for its work to tackle knife crime and gang violence.

The commission said a case had been opened on SPAC Nation in April last year, and in November this year information received from the trustees “raised further concerns about the charity’s financial controls, policy and procedures”.

In a statement, it added: “Of immediate concern to the commission is that substantial amounts of charity money are held in cash.

“As a protective measure, the commission has issued an order under Section 84 of the Charities Act, requiring the charity to bank its money.

“The commission is also concerned about the apparent lack of clarity between the personal, business and charity roles of leaders within the charity.”

The commission said it opened the inquiry to “examine matters furthers” after allegations…

The cathedral enlisted the help of the local community to donate 500 bottles for the tree.

Look at this beautiful tree – could you believe it’s made of all the plastic bottles you have been donating?! @jachapotgieter has well and truly worked his magic✨

Our Christmas Tree Festival opens from tomorrow! pic.twitter.com/QDFxiJ6OH6

— Chester Cathedral (@ChesterCath) November 28, 2019

Artist and environmental conservationist Jacha Potgieter designed the tree and it was created by blacksmith Gerallt Evans.

Potgieter said the project was a way to raise awareness of plastic pollution.

The tree is one of many trees displayed this Christmas for Chester Cathedral’s annual Christmas Tree Festival, which for 2019 has been dubbed the Christmas Tree-cycled Festival.

Such a lovely evening at the official opening of the @ChesterCath Christmas Tree Festival I’ve loved helping to create the @Hobbycraft Chester tree & supporting the amazing charities @adopt_matters and @SticknStep1 ❄️ Check out this beautiful tree by artist @jachapotgieter ✨ pic.twitter.com/4a8EEH0P3x

— EmmaLucyIllustration (@EmmaLucyArt) November 28, 2019

The festival runs through 5th January.

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A group of armed men thought to be from the Islamic terrorist group Al-Shabaab ambushed a bus travelling from Nairobi to Mandera on 6th December, according to International Christian Concern (ICC).

Militants reportedly separated the 56 passengers on board into groups of local Muslims and non-local Christians.

The victims were then executed for failing to recite the Islamic creed, known as the Shahada – which declares belief in Allah and Muhammad as his prophet.

Confirming the incident to ICC, a Kenyan police officer said: “A passenger bus belonging to Medina Bus Company, traveling between Wajir and Mandera was attacked by a criminal gang at around 5:30pm. The attack happened at Maadathe area, five kilometers to Kotulo. Lives are believed to have been lost.”

Mandera’s governor has condemned the terror attack as “cowardly” and “disturbing” while the office of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta released a statement warning action will be taken to bring the assailants to justice.

It read: “The government will not relent in its ruthless crackdown on criminal elements including suspected terrorists in its solemn duty to safeguard the lives and property of Kenyans.

“The head of state further sends a strong warning and reminder to misguided elements operating within and outside of our national borders and whose actions harm innocent Kenyans that no effort will be spared in…