SECURITY measures for MPs will be bolstered with a £31 million package that will include providing elected politicians with a dedicated police contact to liaise with over safety issues.
Home Secretary James Cleverly, who made the funding announcement, will meet with police chiefs on Wednesday to discuss what more can be done to improve the safety of MPs.
He said no MP should have to accept that threats or harassment is “part of the job”.
The extra funding follows fears about MPs being targeted and intimidated by demonstrators in recent months, particularly by those demanding an immediate ceasefire in Palestine.
READ MORE: SNP 'consider disrupting House of Commons process to protest Speaker'
It also comes following claims by the Speaker that threats and intimidation towards members of the House was the key factor in his decision to allow a debate on a Labour amendment to an SNP Opposition Day calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
This meant that the SNP motion was not voted on, leading to scenes of uproar from MPs walking out of the chamber at one point.
Lindsay Hoyle is now facing calls for him to resign over the incident, with allegations he bowed to pressure from Labour leader Keir Starmer and more than 80 MPs have signed an early day motion of no confidence in the Speaker.
Conservative backbencher Tobias Ellwood’s home was targeted earlier this month by pro-Palestine protesters, with the police warning his family to “stay away” from the property as “arriving through that crowd would’ve antagonised the situation”.
The family homes of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer have also been set upon by environmental protesters in past months.
On Wednesday, policing minister Chris Philp said four people had been arrested after a political party fundraising event in Stoke was disrupted by protesters last week, forcing it to be closed down.
He said: “We can’t cede an inch of territory to people who seek to intimidate our elected representatives.”
The Home Office said the latest funding package will provide increased security provisions for MPs.
The investment will be used to enhance police capabilities, increase private sector security provisions for those facing a higher risk and to expand cyber security advice to locally elected representatives.
It will also ensure all elected representatives and candidates have a dedicated named police contact to liaise with on security matters, officials said.
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Cleverly’s department said the measures would significantly expand the support provided under current policing arrangements for politicians.
The Home Secretary will hold a roundtable with the National Police Chiefs’ Council on Wednesday to discuss efforts to “protect democratic processes from intimidation, disruption or subversion”, his aides said.
Announcing the new funding, Cleverly said: “The Government will take every possible step to safeguard the people, processes and institutions upon which our democracy relies.
“I take the safety and security of all members of the House with the utmost seriousness.
“None of us should have to accept that enduring hate crimes, harassment, or threats is part of the job.
“I will continue to work closely with my police counterparts to provide elected representatives with the support they need.”
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