PA MediaReform UK leader Nigel Farage’s publicly-funded security detail has been cut by 75%, the party’s head of policy has claimed.
Zia Yusuf said the decision had been taken two weeks ago by parliamentary officials for “inexplicable reasons”, with party donors stepping in to “ensure that his security is shored up”.
The Commons authorities said they do not comment on individual cases, but a “rigorous” process was in place to assess arrangements for MPs.
It comes amid an escalating war of words between Reform and Sir Keir Starmer over Labour attacks on Farage during its party conference in Liverpool.
Speaking to the , Yusuf accused the prime minister of co-ordinating a “campaign of incitement to violence” against Farage, adding that the Reform UK leader had been subjected to “unprecedented vilification” by ministers.
It comes after Sir Keir described Reform UK’s policy of scrapping indefinite leave to remain as “racist” and accused Farage of not liking Britain.
Reform has accused the prime minister of describing Farage and the party’s supporters as racists, something Sir Keir has denied.
Yusuf accused Sir Keir of “circling the drain”, claiming polling showed Labour members want Sir Keir to stand down as the party’s leader.
“So how’s he responded? He’s responded by co-ordinating the most unprecedented vilification and campaign of incitement to violence against the man who, frankly, he knows he cannot beat at the ballot box,” he said.
‘For the police’
He added that the attacks on Farage this week had come “in the context” of the decision to downgrade the Reform UK leader’s security by Parliament’s security team, which manages security for both MPs and members of the House of Lords.
Speaking earlier to Times Radio, he added that the decision was made “from what I can tell, for inexplicable reasons”, without elaborating further.
In his interview, Yusuf said that “reasonable people” would be able to question whether the decision was appropriate, given Reform UK’s rise in national opinion polls since last year’s general election.
Speaking to Radio 5 Live at Labour conference, Cabinet Office Minister Pat McFadden dismissed the idea that security decisions were political, adding it was an operational matter “for the police and the security authorities”.
The Parliamentary Security Department is responsible for security within Parliament, and works with police forces, who are responsible for security outside of the parliamentary estate. MPs are provided with security based on their risk.
In May last year the previous government announced a £31m package to increase security provision for MPs.
It said the money would also ensure elected politicians, as well as election candidates, had a dedicated named police contact to liaise with on security matters.
A spokesperson for the House of Commons said assessments of individual MPs’ security arrangements was “subject to a rigorous risk-based assessment, conducted by security professionals and with input from a range of professional authorities.”
“Whilst these are naturally kept under continuous review, we do not comment on specific details so as not to compromise the safety of MPs, parliamentary staff or members of the public,” they added.
Health Minister Stephen Kinnock rejected Yusuf’s claims about incitement, adding he was “lecturing us on something where they are just not qualified to lecture anybody”.
“We live in a world where there is very robust political debate, that has been going on for a long time,” he added.