SAYEEDA Warsi has said she is "appalled" by the treatment of Labour parliamentary candidate for Bradford West Naz Shah (pictured).

Baroness Warsi, the first female Muslim to hold a cabinet position in the UK government, said: "I am appalled at the way Naz has been treated, not just by men, but by women in the community too. I think we need to look at how we handle women who adopt leadership positions.

"This isn't about me saying people should or shouldn't support her. It is about the amount of vile abuse she has received on email, on websites and in public.

"Much of it has come from a cultural interpretation that has been used as a cover, predominantly by people within Bradford's Muslim community, to vilify her.

"As a woman, even if you disagree with someone's view then you deal with it in a way that is not offensive."