MPs given taxpayer-funded bodyguards as death threats ‘become the norm’

Jo Cox MP was murdered in 2016 after a constituency surgery (Picture: SWNS)

The threat to three female MPs is so high that they have reportedly been given taxpayer-funded bodyguards and chauffeur-driven cars.

Security arrangements like this are normally reserved only for those in the royal family and at the highest level of politics.

But the current risk is seen as so high that some ordinary MPs deemed at particularly high risk have now been given them, rather than only senior cabinet members and the leader of the opposition.

The Sunday Times, which broke the story, said that the unnamed politicians came from both the Tory and the Labour party.

It is part of a major push to improve the safety of MPs, including better security at constituency surgeries, where two MPs were murdered in the last eight years.

Jo Cox was killed by a far-right extremist in the run-up to the Brexit referendum in 2016, and Sir David Amess by an Isis-sympathiser in 2021, leading to the new measures.

Today, the threat level is getting ‘worse and worse’ according to Lisa Nandy, shadow minister for International Development.

The Labour MP told Sky’s Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips that MPs were receiving threats ‘on multiple issues in multiple directions’.

The Wigan MP, who said she always carried a police alarm with her, said: ‘We’ve had incidents over the last few months where people, including me, have been accosted on the streets and surrounded and filmed.

‘Over the 14 years that I’ve been in Parliament, I’ve watched this get worse and worse.’

The danger to MPs is thought to be particularly acute since the war in Gaza, with the UK’s head of counter terror policing Matt Jukes warning last month that it could lead to a major ‘radicalisation moment’ with the force already seeing a 25% increase in intelligence about potential terrorists.

Police cordon protestors at Parliament as over a thousand people attend a Palestine protest in January (Picture: Getty)

Since the conflict flared up in October there have been regular protests in the capital including the shut-down of Tower Bridge last night and chaotic scenes in the Commons during a vote on calling for a ceasefire last week.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he had made a controversial change to voting procedure due to fears for MPs’ safety.

‘I never ever want to go through a situation where I pick up a phone to find a friend, whatever side, has been murdered by terrorists,’ he said in explanation of his decision. ‘I also don’t want an attack on this House.’

Preet Gill, Labour MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, told the BBC that she had never felt so worried about her safety in the job as she does now, adding that death threats had become ‘the norm’.

She said she had been accused of things ‘without any evidence’ and shouted at in the street.

The unnamed MPs to be given special security arrangements had their protection increased after a risk assessment done with support of the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec).

Floral tributes left outside the Belfairs Methodist Church in Essex, where Conservative MP Sir David Amess was killed in 2021 (Picture: PA)

This committee is the same as that which decided to downgrade security for Prince Harry, a decision he has been fighting in the courts saying it makes it dangerous for he and his family to spend time in the UK.

A UK Parliament spokesperson said: ‘The ability for Members and Members staff to perform their Parliamentary duties safely both on and off the Estate is fundamental to our democracy.

‘We work closely with the Met’s Parliamentary Liaison and Investigations team (PLaIT), and through them, local police forces, who are responsible for the security of MPs and their staff away from the Parliamentary Estate, to ensure MPs are kept as safe as possible and are able to perform their duties. 

‘We cannot comment on MPs’ security arrangements or advice because we would not wish to compromise the safety of MPs, Parliamentary staff or members of the public, but these are kept under continuous review.’

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