Downing Street and Commons dispute Reform MP claims over security after Ann Widdecombe death

Downing Street Rejects Zia Yusuf's Claim The Government 'Doesn't Care' About Reform MPs' Safety

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a reception for NHS staff at Downing Street in London, Monday, July 6, 2026. (Dan Kitwood/Pool Photo via AP)Downing Street has rejected Zia Yusuf’s claim that the government does not “care at all about the security of Reform MPs”.The right-wing party’s home affairs spokesman also pointed the finger at parliament and the police following the death of Ann Widdecombe.Commons officials have already hit back at Yusuf’s comments, which he made in a post on X on Sunday.He said: “The state is providing no protection whatsoever. In fact, based on what I have seen in the last 48 hours, none of the government, the Speaker nor the police care at all about the security of Reform MPs.“Several of our MPs have written to the above in recent months about distressing, escalating security concerns, asking for help. Their correspondence was not even replied to. I will let you draw your own conclusions from this.”Asked about Yusuf’s claims, Keir Starmer’s spokesman said: “It’s absolutely paramount that MPs can go out there in the wider world safely and freely.“There is a rigorous and proportionate security system in place to ensure the safety of MPs and ministers.“As you’d expect, we keep this under constant review to ensure it is able to adapt and evolve to ever-changing threats, and the Parliamentary Security Department, police and Home Office teams work in close co-ordination to assess risk and provide comprehensive protective security measures.”A House of Commons spokesperson hit back at Yusuf by insisting “all MPs are offered appropriate security measures”.“Any assessment of an individual MPs’ security arrangements or advice is subject to a rigorous risk-based assessment, conducted by security professionals and with input from the police and a range of professional authorities,” they said. “These are naturally kept under continuous review.“All MPs are offered appropriate security measures but we do not comment on specific cases or details of those measures so as not to compromise the safety of MPs, parliamentary staff or members of the public.”Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.Related...Commons Bosses Hit Back At Zia Yusuf's Claim They 'Do Not Care' About Reform MPs' SafetyNick Robinson Roasts Zia Yusuf Over Reform's Claim To Be Anti-EstablishmentReform's Zia Yusuf Hit With Community Note On X Over Clacton By-Election Offer

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Commons Bosses Hit Back At Zia Yusuf's Claim They 'Do Not Care' About Reform MPs' Safety

Reform's Zia Yusuf suggested Commons bosses have hit back at Zia Yusuf after he claimed they do not “care at all” about Reform MPs’ safety.The party’s home affairs spokesman also pointed the finger at the government and the police following the death of Ann Widdecombe.The former Tory minister, who was a Reform spokeswoman, was found dead at her home in Devon on Thursday.A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.It has since emerged that Reform UK are paying for round-the-clock security for their MPs.In a post on X, Yusuf said: “The state is providing no protection whatsoever. In fact, based on what I have seen in the last 48 hours, none of the government, the Speaker nor the police care at all about the security of Reform MPs.“Several of our MPs have written to the above in recent months about distressing, escalating security concerns, asking for help. Their correspondence was not even replied to. I will let you draw your own conclusions from this.”Given the way this headline is worded, many are (understandably) taking it to mean Reform MPs have been given police protection by the state.I want to clarify that the opposite is true.The state is providing no protection whatsoever.In fact, based on what I have seen in the… pic.twitter.com/TaFZzEMNkH— Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) July 12, 2026But a House of Commons spokesperson hit back at Yusuf by insisting “all MPs are offered appropriate security measures”.He said: “The ability of members and their staff to perform their parliamentary duties safely, both on and off the estate, is fundamental to our democracy.“Any assessment of an individual MPs’ security arrangements or advice is subject to a rigorous risk-based assessment, conducted by security professionals and with input from the police and a range of professional authorities. These are naturally kept under continuous review.“All MPs are offered appropriate security measures but we do not comment on specific cases or details of those measures so as not to compromise the safety of MPs, parliamentary staff or members of the public.”Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has previously said that MPs’ safety “keeps me awake at night”.A cross-party Speakers’ Conference on MPs’ safety last year called for action across government, regulatory bodies, the media, and wider society to strengthen protections for MPs and election candidates.Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.Related...Nick Robinson Roasts Zia Yusuf Over Reform's Claim To Be Anti-EstablishmentReform's Zia Yusuf Hit With Community Note On X Over Clacton By-Election Offer'I'm Not Lying': Fiona Bruce Clashes With Zia Yusuf In BBC Question Time Bias Row

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