Government failing Farage over security, says Jenrick

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Government failing Farage over security, says JenrickImage source, ReutersByJennifer McKiernanPolitical reporterPublished8 minutes agoReform UK's Treasury spokesman has accused the government of a "dereliction of duty" over Nigel Farage's taxpayer-funded security, claiming it had previously been "downgraded". Robert Jenrick said his party leader had not been offered the security he needs, after it emerged Reform UK turned down an offer of government-funded security last year. It comes as the alleged murder of Reform's Ann Widdecombe, which is now being investigated by counterterrorism police, has prompted renewed debate over the security offered to politicians.

Farage is set to meet with the Home Office over his security arrangements, after accepting an offer of a meeting made by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Reform's Zia Yusuf has previously claimed parliamentary officials took the decision in September last year to cut Farage's publicly-funded security by 75%, with party donors stepping in to cover costs. Speaking to Radio 4's Today programme, Jenrick was asked to clarify whether the package offered to Farage was similar to that of Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.

The Details

Asked if this was the offer Farage rejected because he felt it was insufficient, Jenrick replied: "That's right. "Decisions over the security of current MPs and members of the House of Lords are made by the House of Parliament's security team. There is a separate, independent committee, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC), to deal with high profile political candidates, which is staffed by officials from the Home Office, the Cabinet Office, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

Jenrick said: "Frankly I find it astonishing that, just a short period after he was elected to Parliament, the authorities, the government, chose to massively downgrade his security". "It shouldn't have taken the death of Ann Widdecombe for Nigel Farage to be given a meeting with the relevant Home Office committee - that really is a dereliction of duty, and it's ultimately the home secretary who makes that decision. "He added: "I do question whether this would have happened to someone with different political views.

"On Monday, Mahmood said she would look at the what security guidance could be given to former MPs. The safety of politicians has been a prominent issue in recent years, with the murder of Conservative MP David Amess in 2021 and last month marking the ten-year anniversary of Labour MP Jo Cox's murder. The Conservative government announced a £31m package to increase security for MPs in May 2024.

Former Conservative justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland, who launched a review into MP security after the death of Amess, said he had been recommending an increase in security for some political figures.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.