MPS handed £30m for extra security amid Gaza threat
SECURITY guards are to be deployed at events held by MPS as part of a £31million drive to protect politicians amid increased threats following the Israelhamas conflict.
MPS at risk will be able to use private security guards for constituency events or surgeries, in measures that James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, pledged would “safeguard the people, processes and institutions upon which our democracy relies”.
Since the Oct 7 attack on Israel, progaza activists have held demonstrations and been accused of intimidating politicians to force them to support a ceasefire.
The Prime Minister has described offensive comments by Lee Anderson, the former deputy chairman, as “wrong” but denied the Conservative party had “Islamophobic tendencies”. In an interview with the BBC, when asked if the party had a problem with Islamophobia, Rishi Sunak said: “Of course it doesn’t.”
Under the new security measures, MPS deemed to be at highest risk will now be able to call on private bodyguards to protect them 24/7. It emerged at the weekend that three female politicians have already been given taxpayerfunded bodyguards.
The money will also pay for increased security such as CCTV, alarms and sensors at MPS’ homes or constituency offices. Cyber security advice for politicians will be expanded amid concerns over the rise in online threats and abuse.
Ministers pledged that all elected representatives and candidates would have a dedicated named police contact to liaise with on security matters. The Home Office said this represented a major expansion of the support provided under current policing arrangements.
Some of the new money will also be used to set up a communities fund to
pay for extra police patrols in areas where tensions are highest amid the war in the Middle East.
Mr Cleverly will today hold a round-table with police chiefs to discuss what more can be done to improve the safety and security of politicians against “intimidation, disruption or subversion”. Announcing the new fund he said: “I take the safety and security of all members of the House with the utmost seriousness. None of us should have to accept that enduring hate crimes, harassment, or threats is part of the job.”
Tom Tugendhat, the security minister, who negotiated the package with Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, at the weekend, said: “We will do whatever is necessary to protect those who’ve been elected to represent their local communities, and to defend our democratic freedoms.” He condemned recent “disgraceful attempts to intimidate MPS” which was “a threat to our democracy, and toxic for our society”.
Last month Mike Freer, a Tory MP, announced he would not be seeking re-election in part owing to threats, an arson attack on his office and abuse he received owing to his pro-israel stance.
The announcement of the security package came as Rishi Sunak rejected a suggestion by Labour’s former deputy leader Harriet Harman for MPS to speak and vote from their constituencies because of concerns about security at Westminster. Downing Street said the Prime Minister believed it was “really important that we maintain Parliament as a place for free debate”.
Ms Harman had suggested a return to Covid-era remote working could be needed to ensure the protection of politicians.
“They could sometimes vote through the division lobbies, or they could sometimes vote online,” she said.