The front windows of the Tory party office in Shirland Road, Maida Vale, were smashed in a ‘targeted’ attack

THE office of the Westminster North Conservative Association had its four front windows smashed in a “senseless” attack on democracy, officials said.

The MP for Cities of London and Westminster, Nickie Aiken, who is also the party’s deputy chairman, reported the attack in Shirland Road, Maida Vale, to police on Tuesday morning.

She said: “What saddens me most about this attack is that this is not the Westminster we know. We’ve always been a tolerant city which welcomes debate.

“I have been very touched by the number of politicians from across the political divide that have offered their support and their condemnation of an attack on our democracy.”

It came a month after the constituency office of Simon Hart, the former Welsh secretary and MP for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, was attacked with graffiti reading “Tories out”.

Last year the headquarters of the Conservative Association in Enfield North was hit by an attempted arson attack on the eve of local elections in May.

Philip Stephenson-Oliver, chairman of Westminster North Conservative Association, said the office was primarily staffed by volunteers, adding: “Needless to say that despite the effort to disrupt the association. We have continued work as normal with the ­printing of newsletters, ­surveys and dealing with casework to help our community. We hope the police will find those responsible.”

Karen Buck, Labour MP for the Westminster North constituency, said: “It’s shameful. If politics cannot be conducted safely then democracy is undermined for everyone.”

City council leader Adam Hug said: “This shocking behaviour has no place in our democracy.”

Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands said he believed the attack was “targeted”.

The office had reopened yesterday (Thursday) and Conservative party leader Cllr Rachael Robathan said she was delighted after the “despicable act of vandalism”.