Last week there were elections for the European Parliament and, like most party activists, I was doing my bit – chapping doors, delivering leaflets, and standing at polling stations.

I made a point of doing one thing that has become a bit of a tradition for me on election day: I caught up with my friend Allan, one of the candidates, at the polling station.

He is not in the same party as me but, over the years, we’ve gotten into the habit of meeting at the polling station and sharing an ice cream if the weather is good.

These days, the tone of debate in politics has become increasingly hostile. It’s more and more common to demonise those we disagree with, to assume their bad faith, and to attack the person, rather than their ideas and policies.

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In this election we have seen a candidate make “jokes” about raping a Member of Parliament. We need to challenge this sort of behaviour.

Some people have done so – quite literally – by throwing milkshakes at politicians who behave like this.

Now, I don’t have all that much sympathy with someone, who jokes about violence against women, when he ends up with a dry-cleaning bill for a milkshake-sodden suit.

But, taking a step back, I don’t want anyone on the campaign trail having things thrown at them – milkshakes or eggs, insults or punches.

I want a political culture where we engage respectfully across difference, and challenge ideas without insulting people – and where those who continue to speak hate are clearly told that their behaviour will not be tolerated.

Allan and I didn’t have an ice cream on election day this year, it was too cold. But we’ll keep meeting up, because politics is about challenging ideas, not hating the person who holds those ideas.