Reform UK proposes £100m MP security plan after Widdecombe killing
The assassination of Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe has triggered a £100m proposal for round-the-clock MP protection, exposing the escalating security costs facing British democracy.
Reform UK has pledged to spend up to £100 million on round-the-clock security for all 650 British MPs if it wins the next general election. The policy, announced by the party's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf, follows the killing of former Conservative MP and Reform spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe in what counter-terrorism police have classified as a "targeted attack".
The proposed budget represents a dramatic escalation in the financial cost of British politics. Figures from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority show MPs claimed just £4.38 million in security assistance in 2021/22 and £3.88 million the following year. While responsibility for security funding transferred to the House of Commons in April 2023, the new proposal highlights how significantly the threat landscape has shifted.
The current government is already moving to address the crisis. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told the House of Commons he was "truly horrified" by the killing, stating: "We must do more to defend our democracy." During his final Prime Minister's Questions, Starmer tasked officials across government to identify the best mechanisms to accelerate this work. He also suggested installing a memorial shield in the Commons to honour Widdecombe, mirroring tributes to murdered MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess.
The urgency spans party lines. Labour MP Andy Burnham, who is due to replace Starmer as prime minister on 20 July, believes a "serious review" of MPs' security is required. A House of Commons spokesperson confirmed that all MPs are currently offered appropriate measures based on rigorous, continuously reviewed risk assessments, but the system is clearly facing unprecedented pressure.
Yusuf framed the proposal as a necessity for democratic stability, arguing MPs must be able to air their views "without fear" for their lives. The party also wants to allocate resources to protect former politicians still active in public life, based on individual threat assessments.
However, Yusuf used the press conference to strongly criticize the language used by rival parties about Reform. He accused opponents of equating his party to "murderous regimes that butchered tens of millions of people". When challenged by a reporter over his own social media posts calling Starmer "sick" and "depraved", and accusing political rivals of being "traitors", Yusuf defended his remarks. He insisted there is a "clear difference" between his language and the comments he had criticized from other parties.
