Boris Johnson says heightened safety for MPs can be ‘costly and pointless’
The ex-PM has blasted such the move and said it would better to tackle public anger directed at politicians
Boris Johnson has said security for politicians is “pointless” (Image: PA)
Boris Johnson has slammed a call for MPs to have heightened security in the wake of Ann Widdecombe’s murder.
Reform UK – and its leader Nigel Farage – have been leading the charge since their party colleague was found dead at her Dartmoor home earlier in July.
But ex-PM BoJo blasted such a move as “expensive and pointless” and said it would better to tackle public anger directed at politicians.
At the weekend it was revealed MI5 has suggested vulnerable, high-profile figures such as politicians should consider creating a safe room in their homes to shelter from attackers.
Guidance issued by the security service’s National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) included a proposal for a secure area to evade a “potentially violent threat” when it is not possible to flee.
Mr Farage has demanded new taxpayer-funded guards after Ms Widdecombe became the third politician to be murdered in the past decade, following two serving MPs – Labour’s Jo Cox and the Conservative Sir David Amess.
Boris Johnson has slammed a call for MPs to have heightened security in the wake of Ann Widdecombe’s murder(Image: zz/Dennis Van Tine/STAR MAX/IPx)
BoJo was asked on Sky News by Trevor Phillips whether people are being put off standing for public office due to the danger.
He replied: “I think people are more verbally aggressive with each other than [before]. I feel it’s got a bit coarser, a bit rougher.
“That might put people off and they might not want their kids shouted at, that sort of thing.
“What I think about all this is that actually it’s probably expensive and pointless to try to raise everybody’s level of security.
“But what we could do is dial down the general level of invective.”
The issue of threats aimed at politicians has also grown and the former Tory leader praised Labour’s Rachel Reeves for challenging a heckler earlier this year.
He added: “I think she’s been an appalling Chancellor, but I thought Rachel Reeves was very good at that petrol station when she stood up to someone.”
