The government has failed Farage in terms of security, Jenrik says

A spokesman for the Reform UK Treasury accused Nigel Farage’s government of “abstaining from duty” on taxpayer-funded safety nets, which he previously said had been “reduced”.

Robert Jenrick said his party leader had not been given the security he wanted after Reform UK rejected a government-funded security bid last year.

The murder of reformer Ann Widdecombe, who is now being investigated by counter-terrorist police, has sparked a renewed debate over security issues for politicians.

Faraj is due to meet the Home Office at a security briefing after accepting a meeting offered by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.

Reformist Zia Youssef previously said parliamentary officials had taken a decision in September last year to cut Farage’s publicly funded security by 75%. Party donors chip in to cover costs..

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Jenrick was asked to clarify whether the package offered to Farage was the same as that of Conservative leader Kimi Badenoch.

When asked if this was the reason Farage was rejected because he felt it wasn’t good enough, Jenrick replied, “That’s right, yes, that’s right.”

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.

“I find it ironic that the officials, the government, chose to drastically reduce their security shortly after they were actually elected to parliament,” Jenrick said.

“Nigel Farage should not have taken Anne Widdecombe’s death to prompt a meeting with the relevant Home Office committee – that is actually doing his duty, and it is up to the Home Secretary to make that decision.”

He added: “I wonder if this would happen to someone with a different political view.”

On Monday, Mahmood said she would look into the security guidelines for former MPs.

The security of politicians remains a major concern as 2021 marks the tenth anniversary of the murder of Conservative MP David Ames and last month’s murder of Labor MP Jo Cox.

The conservative government announced £31m package to boost security For MPs in May 2024.

Former Conservative justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland, who launched a review of MP security after Ames’ death, said he was recommending increased security for some politicians.

“I was corresponding with the Home Secretary before Anne’s death and I made it clear that a second part of my review was important, which was to look carefully and closely at security arrangements for MPs,” he told TODAY.

“It’s not just senior ministers who get protection, but all members of the council – Nigel Farage, other Labor MPs too – this all needs a very careful look.”

He added: “I am concerned to hear any MPs of any persuasion tell me that the situation is volatile, that there may be an element of arbitrariness to this.”

However, he explained that the balance should be maintained: “If we enter the default position of representative democracy, where the members of parliament and politicians are far from what they serve, I think we can all agree that democracy itself is a big problem.”

A spokesman for Reform said: “In the days since Charlie Kirk’s murder, Mr Farage’s welfare package has been cut by 75 per cent for no apparent reason, at a time when threats to MPs on the far right have increased.

“Faced with a state offer no longer commensurate with the threat to him, Nigel rejected the reduced and inadequate package and took responsibility for proper protection rather than gamble with Reform’s life.”

The Joint Security Team has been contacted for comment. Commons officials previously said they would not comment on individual cases, but there was a “robust” process for MPs to review arrangements.

The Home Office and RAVEC have been contacted for comment.