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A serious review of MPs’ security is needed following the death of Ann Widdecombe, Andy Burnham has said.<\/b><\/p>\n
The former Greater Manchester mayor, who is expected to become prime minister next Monday, said politics had “darkened” in the decade he had been away from Westminster.<\/p>\n
He said he was “shocked to see how much security now has to be in place”, but added that it may need to be increased further still.<\/p>\n
The killing of Widdecombe – a Reform UK spokeswoman and former Conservative MP – is now being investigated by counter-terrorism police, and has prompted renewed debate over the security offered to politicians.<\/p>\n
A 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday, before being re-arrested on Monday on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.<\/p>\n
A leading figure on the right of British politics, the former minister was found dead at her home in Haytor, Devon on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Asked why he thought frontline politics had become so dangerous, Burnham said: “It’s easy to blame social media, but it feels like it’s having some impact in just building that kind of toxicity that’s around the political debate.”<\/p>\n
He added: “It’s obviously appalling what happened to Ann.<\/p>\n
“I knew Ann over many years in the House – we got along and everybody got along, but it feels like something has changed.”<\/p>\n
Earlier on Tuesday, Reform’s Robert Jenrick accused the government of a “dereliction of duty” over Nigel Farage’s taxpayer-funded security, claiming it had previously been “downgraded”.<\/p>\n
Jenrick said his party leader had not been offered the security he needed, after it emerged Reform turned down an offer of government-funded security last year.<\/p>\n
The Home Office said Jenrick’s comments were “categorically untrue”, with a spokesperson adding that ministers were not involved in deciding MPs’ security.<\/p>\n
Before he entered Parliament at the 2024 general election, any state-funded security for Farage would have been provided by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), a team of officials from across government.<\/p>\n
Once he became an MP responsibility then switched to the Parliamentary Security Department.<\/p>\n
Reform sources say Farage was offered an enhanced security package by parliamentary authorities in July 2024, amounting to two rotating teams of eight security officials.<\/p>\n
They say that in September 2025 parliamentary authorities reviewed the threat to the Reform leader and offered a downgraded security package consisting of a car, driver and one close protection officer.<\/p>\n
Reform rejected this offer of state-funded support and chose instead to privately fund Farage’s security.<\/p>\n
Parliament’s second offer to Farage was still much bigger than the support offered to most MPs.<\/p>\n
One MP who also receives enhanced security is understood to have had a driver and one security only at certain specific events when the threat to them was deemed sufficiently high.<\/p>\n
House of Commons authorities would not confirm or deny whether Farage’s security had been downgraded, but said security was “fundamental to our democracy” and “all MPs are offered appropriate” measures.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson added: “Any assessment of an individual MPs’ security arrangements or advice is subject to a rigorous risk-based assessment, conducted by security professionals and with input from the police and a range of professional authorities.<\/p>\n
“These are naturally kept under continuous review.”<\/p>\n
Farage is not currently an MP after he resigned and triggered a by-election earlier this month, meaning any state-funded security would now be provided by Ravec, rather than Parliament.<\/p>\n
The safety of politicians has been a prominent issue in recent years, with the murders of Conservative MP Sir David Amess in 2021 and Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016.<\/p>\n
The Conservative government announced a \u00a331m package to increase security for MPs in May 2024.<\/p>\n
A 2022 review following Sir David’s murder also led to tailored security advice being given to MPs based on individual circumstances, rather than a standardised set of measures.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n