Rishi Sunak has said that "forces are trying to tear us apart", in an address to the nation from 10 Downing Street following the George Galloway election.
The Prime Minister claimed that the UK has seen a "shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality" in recent weeks and months.
"Now our democracy itself is a target," he added.
He says council meetings and local events have been stormed, MPs do not feel safe in their homes and long-standing parliamentary conventions have been "upended" because of safety concerns.
"It was beyond alarming that last night the Rochdale by-election returned a candidate who dismisses the horror of what happened on 7 October," he added, referring to George Galloway's victory at the Rochdale by-elections.
