Ex-prime minister Boris Johnson has questioned whether MPs should have their security ramped up in the wake of the murder of ex-minister Ann Widdecombe.
The former Conservative leader said the move, championed by Reform since Ms Widdecombe was found dead at her Dartmoor home 10 days ago, would be ‘expensive and pointless’.
Speaking to Sky News Mr Johnson said it would be better to work towards reducing the public anger directed at politicians.
He also praised Chancellor Rachel Reeves for giving as good as she got from a heckler earlier this year.
The death of Ms Widdecombe has reignited the debate over the security of politicians, with her Reform allies including Nigel Farage demanding new taxpayer-funded guards.
Two serving MPs, Labour’s Jo Cox and the Conservative David Amess, have been murdered in the course of their work in the past 10 years, and the issue of threats aimed at politicians has grown at the same time.
Today it was revealed MI5 has suggested vulnerable high-profile figures including politicians should consider creating a safe room in their homes to shelter from attackers.
New guidance issued by the security service’s National Protective Security Authority (NPSA) suggests they consider creating a secure area to evade a ‘potentially violent threat’ when it is not possible to flee.
But former PM Boris Johnson cautioned against the idea of more security for MPs, telling Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips: ‘It’s probably expensive and pointless to try and raise everybody’s level of security’
The guidance was issued before the murder of former minister Ann Widdecombe at her Devon home 10 days ago
Mr Johnson was asked on Sky News’ Sunday Morning with 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). Don’t you feel?
‘I feel it’s got a bit coarser, a bit rougher. And that might put people off and they might not want their kids shouted at, that sort of thing. Right?
‘And so what I think about all this is that actually it’s probably expensive and pointless to try and raise everybody’s level of security.
‘But what we could do is dial down the general level of invective.’
He went on the suggest MPs should ‘take it in your stride and fire back’, citing the example of Ms Reeves.
‘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,’ he said.
The Chancellor was heckled during a TV interview about fuel duty in May by a van driver who shouted that the Government was ‘ruining the country’ and ‘get Keir Starmer out’.
The heckler appeared to be a Reform UK supporter as he shouted: ‘Nigel Farage. Go on Nigel.’
As he drove his vehicle away, which had two St George’s flags on the roof, he said out of the window: ‘I’ve got British flags on. Am I going to get arrested? We’ve got English flags on here, Rachel, am I going to get arrested?’
But she hit back, saying: ‘I love our country. I love our country, and one of the things about our country is good manners. Not very British.’
The NPSA guidance on safe rooms, released last year and last updated in June, suggests ‘high-risk individuals’ consider creating a ‘safer area’ in their home that is ‘large enough to accommodate those who live with you and be designed to offer as much delay as possible until the emergency services arrive’.
While it could be an existing space like a bathroom, bedroom or storeroom, it should ‘be protected by doors, windows and walls that are resistant against forced entry’.
Outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said more must be done to ‘defend our democracy’, while his incoming successor Andy Burnham has also said a ‘serious review’ is needed into MPs’ security.
