Boris Johnson says increasing MP security in wake of Widdecombe murder is ‘expensive and pointless’ – as it is revealed MI5 gave politicians advice on home safe rooms
Former prime minister Boris Johnson has questioned whether MPs’ security should be increased following the murder of former minister Ann Widdecombe.
The former Conservative leader said the move, which has been supported by Reform since Ms Widdecombe was found dead at her Dartmoor home 10 days ago, would be ‘expensive and pointless’.
Speaking to Sky News, Mr Johnson said it would be better to work towards reducing public anger towards politicians.
He also praised Chancellor Rachel Reeves for giving as good as what she received from a scammer earlier this year.
Mrs Widdecombe’s death It has reignited debate over the security of politicians, including reform allies. Nigel Farage demands new taxpayer-funded protections.
Two sitting MPs, Labor’s Jo Cox and Conservative David Amess, have been killed in the line of duty in the last 10 years, and at the same time the issue of threats against politicians has grown.
Today it was revealed that MI5 suggested Vulnerable high-profile individuals, including politicians, should consider creating a safe room in their home to protect themselves from attackers.
New guidance published by the security service’s National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) recommends that where escape is not possible, they should consider creating a safe area to avoid a ‘potentially violent threat’.
But former Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned against the idea of greater security for MPs in a conversation with Trevor Phillips on Sky News Sunday Morning: ‘Trying to raise the level of security for everyone is probably expensive and pointless.’
The guidance was published before former minister Ann Widdecombe was murdered at her home in Devon 10 days ago.
Mr Johnson was asked in an interview with Trevor Phillips on Sky News’ Sunday Morning whether people run for public office because of the danger.
He replied: ‘I think people are more verbally aggressive towards each other (than before). Don’t you feel it?
‘I feel like it’s a little rougher, a little tougher. This may distract people and they may not want their children to be yelled at like that. Right?
‘And what I think about all this is that actually trying to improve everyone’s security level is probably expensive and pointless.
‘But what we can do is reduce the overall level of insult.’
Citing Ms Reeves as an example, he suggested that MPs should ‘act on their own behalf and respond’.
‘I think he was a terrible chancellor. “But I thought Rachel Reeves was very good when she stood up to someone at that gas station,” he said.
The Chancellor was heckled during a TV interview about the fuel tax in May by a van driver who shouted that the Government was ‘ruining the country’ and ‘taking out Keir Starmer’.
The bloke appeared to be a UK Reform supporter and shouted: ‘Nigel Farage. ‘Go on, Nigel.’
As he drove his car with two St George flags on its roof, he said out the window: ‘I have British flags. Will I be arrested? There are British flags here, Rachel, will I be arrested?’
But he fought back and said: ‘I love our country. I love our country and one of the characteristics of our country is etiquette. Not very British.’
The NPSA’s guidance on safe rooms, published last year and last updated in June, recommends that ‘high-risk individuals’ should consider creating a ‘safer space’ in their home that is ‘large enough to accommodate those living with you and designed to provide as much delay as possible until emergency services arrive’.
It can be an existing space such as a bathroom, bedroom or pantry, or it must be ‘protected with doors, windows and walls resistant to forced entry’.
Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said more needed to be done to ‘defend our democracy’, while his incoming successor Andy Burnham said there needed to be a ‘serious review’ into the security of MPs.
