All MPs urged to review their security

POLICE forces last night urged all MPs to review their security in the wake of Jo Cox’s murder.

Officers are contacting politicians across the country to offer advice amid warnings of copycat attacks. Yesterday a man was charged after making threats against Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, while Scottish Secretary David Mundell revealed that police had told him of a ‘credible’ threat.

Tory MP Andrew Percy revealed he now wears a panic alarm after receiving a number of death threats. He said such warnings were ‘a part of life’ for an MP and admitted he has ‘had to beef up security’ in recent months.

It also emerged yesterday that Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York Central, had received a death threat for sympathising with refugees the day before Mrs Cox was mur- dered. Notts Casual Infidels, a far-Right group belonging to the extremist Infidels network, posted an image of her addressing a ‘refugees welcome rally’, with the warning: ‘This bitch needs to disappear.’

According to the anti-fascist group Hope Not Hate, at least nine MPs have been targeted by far-Right activists over the last two years.

Commons officials are also looking at appointing a watchdog to monitor MPs’ Twitter activity in a bid to identify would-be attackers.

A spokesman for the National Police Chiefs’ Council said forces were taking action over fears that MPs are increasingly vulnerable in their constituencies. Labour’s Neil Coyle said he had received the security advice from police, saying: ‘We’ve all been warned of copycat attacks.’ Last night police said a 37-yearold man was held after a death threat made to Exeter MP Mr Bradshaw. It followed an alleged campaign of extreme Right-wing racist and homophobic abuse lasting several months.

Mr Mundell said that he had received a death threat after voting for military action in Syria in December.

Some MPs yesterday cancelled surgeries in response to Thursday’s killing of Mrs Cox outside her advice session in Birstall, West Yorkshire – while others went ahead with police protection. Rachel Reeves, Labour MP for Leeds West, said her constituency office was temporarily closed but said the killing should not ‘drive a wedge’ between MPs and voters.