Find out which MPs receive the most abuse on Twitter

Tom Watson receives more abuse on Twitter than any other MP in the Black Country and Staffordshire, new research has shown.

Michael Fabricant is the only MP in the area close to receiving the same number of hostile messages as the deputy Labour leader, according to academics at the University of Central Lancashire.

Researchers used machine learning software to analyse every tweet sent to the 565 MPs who use Twitter between December 22 and May 9. A total of 681,084 messages were examined and then ranked as either positive, neutral, disagree or hostile.

In terms of the number of hostile messages, party leaders Jeremy Corbyn, Theresa May and Tim Farron came top of the list, however Scottish MPs dominated the top 10 in terms of the proportion of tweets that were hostile.

And in the Black Country and Staffordshire, Mr Watson and Mr Fabricant received more than four times the number of hostile messages than the rest of the region's MPs put together.

Ten most abused Black Country and Staffordshire MPs by quantity of 'hostile' tweets:

1. Tom Watson

2. Michael Fabricant

3. Ian Austin

4. Mike Wood

5. John Spellar

6. Mark Garnier

7. Pat McFadden

8. Margot James

9. Emma Reynolds

10. Bill Cash

Mr Watson, who is hoping to reclaim his West Bromwich East at this week's General Election, was sent 760 hostile message - putting him 19th nationally in terms of quantity- while Tory Lichfield candidate Mr Fabricant received 576 (30th nationally).

However the pair received nearly 13,000 tweets between them, compared to a combined 3,615 sent to 15 other MPs in the Black Country and Staffordshire. Thus both MPS ranked lower in terms of the proportion of tweets noted as aggressive.

Ten most abused Black Country and Staffordshire MPs by proportion of 'hostile' tweets

1. Mark Garnier

2. Adrian Bailey

3. Mike Wood

4. Tom Watson

5. Mike Fabricant

6. James Morris

7. Pat McFadden

8. John Spellar

9. Margot James

10. Wendy Morton

With 10.7 per cent and 10.2 per cent of all tweets ranked as hostile, Mr Watson and Mr Fabricant ranked fourth and fifth among the 17 local MPs and 73rd and 103rd nationally.

Mark Garnier in Wyre Forest (14.6 per cent), Adrian Bailey in West Bromwich West (14.7 per cent) and Mike Wood in Dudley (11.1 per cent) all had a higher proportion of hostile tweets but were sent a total of just 615 messages.

In contrast, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - the most messaged of all MPs - was sent 110,378 tweets over the five-month period. Of these 10.7 per cent were hostile (the same ratio as Mr Watson), and 26.5 per cent of mentions were ranked as negative (including hostile and disagree).

Theresa May received 75,219 tweets - of which 10.3 per cent were hostile and 25.8 per cent were negative - and of the 21,070 tweets sent to Tim Farron, 26.2 per cent were negative and 10.6 per cent were hostile.

Thus it appears both nationally and in the Black Country and Staffordshire, the most tweets - and therefore the most abuse - is reserved for the politicians with the highest profile.

That Mr Watson has more than 230,000 Twitter followers and is one of the Labour Party's most senior figures may account for the high volume of hostile tweets directed at him. Both he and Mr Fabricant are prolific tweeters who regularly engage with supporters and critics alike.

In the wider West Midlands, only Labour colleague Jess Phillips received more abusive tweets than Mr Watson. The MP for Birmingham Yardley proportionally received less abuse than Mr Watson, but narrowly beat John McDonnell, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband to eighth place after receiving 1,075 hostile tweets - many of which include misogynistic and sexist abuse.

Ten most abused UK MPs by quantity of 'hostile' tweets:

1. Jeremy Corbyn

2. Theresa May

3. Tim Farron

4. Boris Johnson

5. Chuka Umunna

6. Diane Abbott

7. David Lammy

8. Jess Phillips

9. John McDonnell

10. Nick Clegg

Journalism lecturer Amy Binns carried out the research with computing lecturer Dr Martin Bateman.

Ms Binns says specific events and comments sometimes lead to waves of abuse, while particular aggression also seems to be saved for politicians north of the border - with four Scots in the top 10 for receiving the highest proportion of abusive tweets.

“The hostility aimed at the Scottish MPs appears to be of a different type to hostile tweets experienced by MPs in the rest of the UK," Ms Binns commented.

"It is a more regular feature of their Twitter streams. It comes in recurring waves, though it is linked to events such as the triggering of Article 50."

Ten most abused UK MPs by proportion of 'hostile' tweets (min 100 tweets)

1. Tim Loughton

2. Chi Onwurah

3. Ian Murray

4. George Freeman

5. David Mundell

6. Mhairi Black

7. George Osborne

8. Callum McCaig

9. Rachael Maskell

10. Simon Danczuk

Scotland’s only Labour and Conservative MPs, Ian Murray and David Mundell, faced recurring bouts of extreme hostility which peaked around the triggering of Article 50.

Meanwhile Conservative MP for East Worthing Tim Loughton claimed number one spot for abuse across the UK after receiving particularly negative messages when he attended the BAFTAs and criticised director Ken Loach’s speech as 'pathetic drivel'.

The research is still being developed at the Preston-based university, but the researchers were keen to share the results in the build up to this week's poll.

Ms Binns added: “These are the early results of an ongoing research project, so more analysis is needed, but it seems clear that the spikes experienced by Ms Onwurah, Mr Loughton and Mr Freeman were the result of a specific tweet or quote by them.

“Analysis of social media is a new way of understanding the voter landscape, particularly in the run up to the General Election.

"It can’t be treated as polling due to the skewed demographics of social media, but it allows us to observe the strength of feeling and issues concerning the electorate.”