And the Tories/Labour/Liberal seem to have taken this to heart.
The first time I was aware of negative campaigning was during the 2014 referendum - though it may have gone on before then, I was less politically aware - but it seems the norm now.
Rather than saying 'Vote for me, I'll do this for you' they say 'Vote for me, or they'll do that!'
Don't know what the alternative is, but it does make one question whether democracy, in its current form, is really the best way?