𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Security arrangements for high-profile public figures including politicians will be reviewed urgently after Ann Widdecombe’s murder, Shabana Mahmood has announced. The independent review, carried out by former national security adviser Sir Stephen Lovegrove, will look at how existing security is provided and whether funding and measures are being used effectively.

Police support will be expanded to include leaders of political parties who are not MPs, as well as peers, former MPs, former members of the devolved parliaments and political party spokespeople. The Home Secretary said: “Those who enter public life do so to serve. Robust debate and criticism are part of the job. Threats, abuse and violence are not.

“An attack on any individual in public life is an attack on every one of us, and it is an attack on democracy itself.

“We owe it to those public servants we have tragically lost, and to everyone who believes in a fair and open country, to ensure those who serve receive the protection they deserve.”

Reform UK spokeswoman and former Tory minister Miss Widdecombe, 78, died in July after she was hit over the head with a hammer 21 times at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon.

It is alleged that Joshua Kerry, who is charged with preparation of terrorist acts between May 31 2024 and July 8 2026, targeted Reform leader Nigel Farage’s house and had a list of names of politicians said to include Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform MPs Richard Tice, Lee Anderson and Robert Jenrick.

Speaking in the Commons, Ms Mahmood said that regardless of the outcome of the investigation into an attempted break-in at Mr Farage’s home, it is “clear there is insufficient protection for those who serve”.

The new review will build on the work of Sir Robert Buckland, who is conducting a separate review into the murder of veteran Tory MP Sir David Amess.

Reform’s home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf said: “This review from the Home Secretary is welcome, but it is disappointing that it took the murder of one of our colleagues, countless threats towards our party spokespeople and months of campaigning from Reform UK to make this government take action.”