Mahmood orders independent review of security for public figures
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has ordered an independent review of security for prominent public figures, including politicians and members of the Royal Family, after former MP Ann Widdecombe was murdered. The review will assess whether current protection is adequate and consider extending police support to political figures who are no longer serving MPs.
Former national security adviser Sir Stephen Lovegrove will lead the review. Widdecombe, 78, died on 8 July after being attacked at her home in Devon; Joshua Kerry, 28, has been charged with her murder and terrorism-related offences, though the allegations have not been proven and proceedings are ongoing. Her death has renewed concerns about protection for public figures outside Parliament, alongside memories of the murders of MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess.
- A review will assess security for politicians, royals and other prominent figures.
- Sir Stephen Lovegrove will lead the independent review.
- The inquiry follows Ann Widdecombe’s murder and renewed safety concerns.
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Public figures including politicians and members of the Royal Family receive security protection from the state, but the level and nature of protection varies considerably. Recent violent attacks on prominent public figures have raised questions about whether existing security arrangements are adequate, particularly for those no longer in active public office.
Ann Widdecombe, a former Conservative MP aged 78, was killed at her home in Devon in July this year. Joshua Kerry, aged 28, has been charged with her murder and terrorism-related offences; these charges have not yet been proven and legal proceedings are ongoing. Her death recalled previous killings of MPs Jo Cox and Sir David Amess, which similarly prompted scrutiny of public figure security.
The Home Secretary has asked Sir Stephen Lovegrove, a former national security adviser, to lead an independent review of whether current protections for public figures are sufficient. The review will assess whether police protection should be extended to former politicians and other prominent individuals who no longer receive routine security.
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The case for
The review represents a necessary response to a documented threat pattern, with three prominent figures—Jo Cox, David Amess, and Ann Widdecombe—murdered in recent years. Since Widdecombe was attacked at her home, former public figures clearly remain vulnerable despite leaving office, and the state has a responsibility to protect those who have served the public. An independent expert assessment can identify gaps in current protection and establish evidence-based measures that are proportionate and effective.
The case against
Whilst these tragic deaths demand serious reflection, expanding permanent security to former public figures raises legitimate questions about cost, sustainability, and democratic values. The incidents, though grave, remain statistically rare, and each tragedy should not automatically trigger expanded state protection infrastructure. Resources are finite, and significant security expenditure might achieve greater public safety if directed to other evidence-based interventions. Democratic society benefits from public figures remaining accessible and integrated into communities rather than progressively isolated by security cordons.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Home Secretary admits politicians’ security measures are not good enough as she launches review of VIPs’ protection in the wake of Anne Widdecombe’s ‘murder’”.