Security arrangements for some of Britain’s most prominent public figures, including politicians and members of the Royal Family, are set to undergo an urgent review following the murder of Ann Widdecombe.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced the overhaul on Monday as concern grows over the safety of people serving in public life.
The independent review will assess whether current protective measures are adequate for government ministers, MPs, senior political figures and members of the Royal Family.
The announcement comes three months after Miss Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former Conservative minister and Reform UK spokeswoman, was brutally murdered at her home in Devon.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday afternoon, Ms Mahmood said police protection would be extended to political figures who are no longer serving as MPs.
The change could offer additional security to former MPs and other high-profile politicians who remain in the public spotlight after leaving elected office.
Sir Stephen Lovegrove, a former national security adviser and senior civil servant, has been chosen to head the independent review.
His investigation will examine the UK’s existing protection arrangements and consider whether they are strong enough to defend prominent public figures from potential threats.
Ms Widdecombe died on July 8 after being struck over the head with a hammer 21 times at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor, Devon
A court heard Joshua Kerry, who is charged with murdering former MP Ann Widdecombe, was driven by an extreme left-wing ideology and “hostility to Reform”
Ms Mahmood said: “Those who enter public life do so to serve. Robust debate and criticism are part of the job. Threats, abuse and violence are not.
“An attack on any individual in public life is an attack on every one of us, and it is an attack on democracy itself.
“We owe it to those public servants we have tragically lost, and to everyone who believes in a fair and open country, to ensure those who serve receive the protection they deserve.”
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The announcement follows mounting pressure on ministers to improve security after Miss Widdecombe was found dead at her home in Haytor, on Dartmoor, in July.
Joshua Kerry, 28, from Rotherham in South Yorkshire, has been charged with her murder.
He also faces terrorism-related charges linked to an investigation into alleged threats against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
During a court hearing last week, prosecutors alleged that Kerry had conducted extensive research into public figures and institutions and tried to gain access to Mr Farage’s home.
The allegations have not been proven, and the criminal proceedings are continuing.
Miss Widdecombe’s death sent shockwaves through Westminster, prompting politicians to warn about the dangers faced by people in public life—particularly those no longer covered by the security protections available to serving MPs.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood announced an overhaul of the protection system on Monday as concerns mount over the safety of people in public life
The veteran politician represented Maidstone and later Maidstone and the Weald as a Conservative MP between 1987 and 2010, before becoming a Brexit Party MEP and subsequently a spokeswoman for Reform UK.
Her murder also revived painful memories of the killings of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016 and Conservative MP Sir David Amess in 2021.
Both were murdered while carrying out their duties as elected representatives, prompting repeated calls for greater protection for politicians and their staff.
The latest review will raise questions about whether existing arrangements adequately reflect the risks faced by political figures after they leave Parliament, particularly those who continue to attract significant public attention.
It also places renewed scrutiny on the balance between protecting public figures and ensuring politicians remain accessible to the people they represent.