Government expands police support to political figures who are not MPs

Key Points:

• Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced that political figures who are not currently MPs, including peers, former MPs, and party spokespeople, will now receive police protection due to concerns over insufficient security.
• The announcement follows the murder of Reform UK spokeswoman and former Conservative MP Ann Widdecombe, who was killed in Devon three months ago, with the suspect also charged with preparing acts of terror against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
• Mahmood highlighted that the protection will include access to a named police officer and assistance with broader security measures, while an independent review into political security, led by former national security advisor Stephen Lovegrove, will report within six months.
• The move has been welcomed by opposition figures and Reform UK, though the latter criticized the government for acting only after Widdecombe’s murder and previous threats to party spokespeople.
• The Jo Cox Foundation emphasized that improving physical security must be accompanied by addressing root causes like online harms, as data shows alleged offences against MPs have significantly increased from 364 in 2019 to 976 in 2025.