Burnham says MP security review needed after Widdecombe’s death

Andy Burnham says a serious review of MPs’ safety is needed following the death of Anne Widdecombe.

The former Manchester mayor, who is expected to become prime minister next Monday, says politics has “darkened” in his decade away from Westminster.

“I’m shocked at how much security there is now,” he added, adding that more may still be needed.

Widdecombe – a spokesman for Reform UK and a former Conservative MP – is now being investigated by counter-terror police and has reignited the debate over security for politicians.

The 28-year-old white Englishman, from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of murder, before being re-arrested on Monday by the Commission on suspicion of planning or inciting acts of terrorism.

The former minister, a leader on the right of British politics, was found dead at her home in Hightower, Devon, on Thursday.

Asked why he thought frontline politics had become so dangerous, Burnham said: “It’s easy to blame social media, but it seems to be having some effect in building this kind of toxicity around the political debate.”

He added: “What happened to Anne was truly shocking.

“I’ve known Anne for years at the house – we got along and all, but something seems to have changed.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the Reformist’s Robert Jenrick accused the government of a “dereliction of duty” on Nigel Farage’s taxpayer-funded security measures, which he said had previously been “reduced”.

Jenrik said his party leader was not given the security he wanted after Reform rejected a government-funded security request last year.

A spokesman for the Home Office said Jenrick’s comments were “absolutely untrue”, adding that ministers were not involved in deciding the security of MPs.

Decisions on the security of current MPs and members of the House of Lords are made by the Parliamentary Security Group.

There is a separate, independent committee, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC), made up of officials from the Home Office, Cabinet Office, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Offices to talk to senior political candidates.

The murders of Conservative MP Sir David Ames in 2021 and Labor MP Jo Cox in 2016 have highlighted the security of politicians.

The Conservative government has announced a £31m package to increase security for MPs in May 2024.

The 2022 Sir David Homicide Review led to tailored security advice based on individual circumstances rather than a standard set of measures.