Andy Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor who is expected to become prime minister next Monday, has called for a serious review of security for Members of Parliament following the death of Ann Widdecombe. Widdecombe, a former Conservative MP and current spokeswoman for Reform UK, was found dead at her home in Haytor, Devon, on Thursday.
Her death is being investigated by counter-terrorism police, and the incident has prompted a renewed national debate regarding the safety of politicians.
Burnham stated that politics has "darkened" in the decade he has been away from Westminster. Expressing his shock at the level of security already in place for politicians, he suggested that it might need to be increased further. When asked about the perceived danger in frontline politics, Burnham remarked that while it is easy to blame social media, it appears to be contributing to the toxicity surrounding political debate.
He noted that he had known Widdecombe for many years in the House and that they had always gotten along, but he feels that the political atmosphere has fundamentally changed.
The investigation into the death is ongoing. A 28-year-old white British man from Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was arrested on suspicion of murder on Saturday. By Monday, he was re-arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation, or instigation of acts of terrorism. Police have described the incident as a targeted attack.
The security of politicians has become a central point of contention. Earlier on Tuesday, Reform’s Robert Jenrick accused the government of a "dereliction of duty" regarding the taxpayer-funded security provided to Nigel Farage, alleging that it had been "downgraded." The Home Office rejected these claims as "categorically untrue," with a spokesperson clarifying that ministers are not involved in the decision-making process regarding individual security for MPs.
The responsibility for security arrangements shifts based on an individual's status. Before the 2024 general election, any state-funded security for Farage would have been managed by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), which consists of officials from across the government.
Upon his election to Parliament, that responsibility transferred to the Parliamentary Security Department. Reform sources claim that Farage was offered an enhanced security package in July 2024, consisting of two rotating teams of eight security officials.
They further allege that in September 2025, parliamentary authorities reviewed the threat level and offered a downgraded package consisting of a car, a driver, and one close protection officer. Currently, because Farage resigned his seat to trigger a by-election earlier this month, any state-funded security would again be provided by Ravec rather than Parliament.
House of Commons authorities declined to confirm or deny whether Farage's security had been downgraded. A spokesperson stated that security is "fundamental to our democracy" and that all MPs are offered appropriate measures based on a "rigorous risk-based assessment" conducted by security professionals, police, and other authorities.
These assessments are kept under continuous review. It is understood that other MPs receiving enhanced security have been provided with a driver and one security guard only for specific events where the threat was deemed sufficiently high.
Neil Basu, a former head of counter-terrorism policing, noted that providing the highest level of protection to all 650 MPs would require "thousands more armed police officers," which he described as not a practical proposition. He added that some MPs are "very well protected" while others struggle to secure the necessary budget for the protection they desire.
The safety of politicians has been a prominent issue since the murders of Sir David Amess in 2021 and Jo Cox in 2016. Following the death of Sir David, a 2022 review led to tailored security advice based on individual circumstances, and in May 2024, the Conservative government announced a £31m package to increase security for MPs.
He added: "It's obviously appalling what happened to Ann.
Once he became an MP responsibility then switched to the Parliamentary Security Department.
