MPs Debate Ann Widdecombe Death After Farage Declined Security Offer

The House of Commons debated the death of Ann Widdecombe on July 13. Police stated that counter-terrorism officers are leading the murder investigation. Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice posted on social media that the establishment wanted Nigel Farage dead and demanded apologies from those who accused the party of politicising the death.

In the Commons session Tice shifted focus to a tribute to Widdecombe. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said she understood Farage’s concerns about security. The exchange followed an earlier period of heated social media reaction.

Robert Jenrick, Reform UK Treasury spokesperson, appeared on the Today programme and accused the government of playing politics with the safety of Reform politicians. He said the government chose not to give Farage the security he needed and only offered a meeting after Widdecombe’s murder. Jenrick added that the home secretary could have offered such a meeting a year or two earlier.

Farage turned down an offer of taxpayer-funded security last year that included a bodyguard, car and trained driver. The package would have provided a similar level of protection to that given to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and some high-profile Cabinet ministers.

Farage had already been receiving publicly funded security before the offer and declined it because he considered the protection inadequate.

Decisions on security for politicians such as Farage are taken by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee. Mahmood stated that the committee is and should be fiercely independent. Jenrick said the home secretary has the power to overrule the committee if she wished.