PARLIAMENTARY hopefuls from across the political spectrum have welcomed the return to election campaigning following the two-day suspension in the wake of Manchester.

Candidates said it was right that the campaign took a pause following the horrific attack on Monday night but it was equally important to resume the process to show terrorists cannot interfere in the democratic process.

Conservatives, Labour, Greens and the SNP resumed low-key local campaigning yesterday while Ukip’s Paul Nuttall launched his party’s manifesto.

National events will resume from today with less than a fortnight to go until the country goes to the polls.

Campaign co-ordinators also assured residents the break in campaigning had been observed and leaflets arrived at homes on Tuesday and Wednesday only because it had not been possible to stop scheduled deliveries with the Royal Mail and professional distributors.

No Sussex candidates backed calls made in some quarters to extend the election campaign following its second suspension within a week, with one candidate suggesting only an extension of at least a month would be practical.

Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas said: “The city of Manchester has said firmly that it will not be cowed by this twisted terrorism and will go about its normal business with strength and unity. Beyond the horror and shattered lives, the bombing was an affront to democracy and a test of the open, tolerant, inclusive values that this country cherishes.

“It was right that we should suspend our campaigning but it is equally respectful to resume the democratic process that terrorism seeks to destroy.”

Peter Chowney, Labour candidate in Hastings and Rye, said: “It was important to show respect for those who lost their lives in the Manchester terror attack but events such as this should not be allowed to interfere with the democratic process, or stop us carrying on with our day-to-day lives.

“I don’t think it would be possible to extend the election campaign for a couple of days because of the practical problems with re-arranging the use of premises as polling stations. If the election were to be postponed, it would have to be for at least a month or more.”

Conservative Sir Peter Bottomley said: “No candidate and no voter would have wanted to carry on as though nothing had happened.

“My view is that we can appropriately and gently start to deliver election papers and to continue to give electors a choice, while demonstrating that all we share matters more than party differences.”

Marko Scepanovic, Lib Dem candidate for Crawley, said: “The events of Monday night should not be forgotten but we must never let terrorists defeat our way of life or our system of democracy. We understand the sensitivity which exists around this time, but it is in the interest of democracy and all that we stand for that the election campaign is allowed to restart, and so we welcome the announcement.”

Manchester-born Doktor Haze, independent candidate in Brighton Kemptown, said: “If we let these lunatics affect our democracy by interrupting our General Election then they have won.

“This is what they want. Democracy means nothing to them. They just intend to spread fear by attacking innocent people and in this case many children.

“Terrorism must never triumph. we need to stand united in this moment of sadness. We must never allow them to win.’

Morwen Millson, Lib Dem candidate in Horsham, said: “It was right that all campaigning was paused to mark the horrific incident in Manchester but it is also important for life in Britain to continue as normal, to demonstrate that terrorism will not win.

“It is right, therefore, that the pause should now end.”