Election candidates to get taxpayer-funded security under new proposals

Telegraph

24-05-2025

Election candidates could be given taxpayer-funded security details during their campaigns as part of an overhaul of MPs' safety.
The move is being considered by a parliamentary committee convened to discuss the safety risk to politicians, The Telegraph understands.
It comes amid growing threats to MPs and a series of arson attacks that allegedly targeted the Prime Minister earlier this month.
The recommendation is one of a number being considered by House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle's committee on MPs' safety, according to those familiar with the discussions.
Known as the Speakers' Conference, the extraordinary committee was convened last year and has regularly met to take evidence from experts and formulate new ways to tackle threats.
The Conference is chaired by Speaker Hoyle and comprises 14 other MPs from across the political divide.
It has met fortnightly since December and will publish an interim report in June.
The interim report is expected to disclose findings so far, make broad recommendations for how to improve MPs safety and set out new data-gathering ideas for how to monitor threats to MPs.
On Wednesday, the committee had its penultimate meeting before the publication of the report.
Those present said that draft proposals, which are not yet finalised, were discussed.
These include a move to provide all parliamentary candidates with access to taxpayer-funded private security details, which have previously been available to MPs.
Last year, The Telegraph revealed widespread use of such arrangements for MPs after the Oct 7 atrocities and a perceived increase in threat levels.
During the last general election, the Home Office funded private security protection for MPs running for re-election through a private contractor.
Candidates from all parties were provided with a named police officer in their local force to provide protection and advice. The provision was previously only available to sitting MPs.
In this month's local elections council candidates for the first time had access to the same service from their local police forces.
There has been an increasing focus on the threat to MPs in recent years after the murder of two MPs, Sir David Amess and Jo Cox.
The Electoral Commission recently warned of a rise in threats to candidates. Its survey of hundreds of parliamentary candidates from the last general election showed that nearly half faced harassment, intimidation or threats while knocking on doors.
Jess Phillips, a Home Office minister, used her victory speech last July to describe the campaign as 'horrible' and 'the worst election I have ever stood in'. She was heckled and jeered at by a crowd during her speech.
The committee has also looked at the role of misinformation in the increasing threat levels against candidates.
As part of the Conference's work, Speaker Hoyle asked the Local Government Association (LGA) if it would be possible for councils to rebut misinformation during election campaigns.
In a letter of response, seen by The Telegraph, the LGA said: 'We do not believe local authorities have any powers or responsibilities to intervene to rebut mis/disinformation about candidates in elections. Indeed, we believe they are precluded from doing so.'
Other areas under consideration by the committee include the uneven approach of police forces to protecting politicians.
While some forces such as the Metropolitan Police have been identified as proactive, others are seen to be less effective in protecting MPs and charging those who make violent threats.
The possibility of a national framework for police forces to deal with threats to democracy has been raised.
'Awful but lawful attacks'
MPs on the committee have also discussed intimidation that falls below the legal threshold for prosecution but leaves parliamentarians feeling unsafe. No firm conclusions have yet been reached on how to deal with these so-called 'awful but lawful' attacks.
A spokesperson for the Speaker's Conference said: 'The House has established a Speaker's Conference to consider the factors influencing the threat levels against MPs and candidates during the election period, and the effectiveness of the response to such threats.
'Since its first meeting in December 2024, the Conference has heard from a range of groups and individuals with expertise on the issues it is considering, and will publish its initial findings in due course. The ability for Members and their staff to perform their Parliamentary duties safely, both on and off the estate, remains fundamental to our democracy.'