LONDON, July 15 (Reuters) - Britain's populist Reform UK called on Wednesday for all lawmakers to be given "full security" if they want it after the murder of Ann Widdecombe, a prominent member of the party led by veteran Brexit campaigner, Nigel Farage.
At a news conference, Zia Yusuf, Reform's home affairs policy chief, accused other politicians and the media of fuelling hostility against the party, which, he said, had led to death threats against Farage and other lawmakers.
Paying tribute to Widdecombe, a 78-year-old former Conservative minister who was found murdered in her home last week, Yusuf said lawmakers needed better security provision. A British man has been arrested.
"If Reform win the next general election ... I will ensure that all members of parliament, of all parties, are provided with round-the-clock protection," Yusuf said.
"We will also allocate significant new resources to protect former politicians still active in public life."
Hours after Yusuf spoke, the Metropolitan Police said a man had been arrested and bailed on suspicion of sending threatening communications to an unnamed member of parliament in a social media post made in May. The Daily Telegraph newspaper said the arrest related to a threat to shoot Farage.
TONE OF ABUSE BECOMING UGLIER
In Britain, politicians are no strangers to abuse from the public, but in recent years many lawmakers have said the tone has become increasingly ugly and dangerous, with some changing their routines and behaviour to avoid confrontation.
In 2021, Conservative lawmaker David Amess was stabbed to death in a church by a man inspired by Islamic State. Five years earlier, Labour lawmaker Jo Cox was killed by a Nazi-obsessed attacker during the Brexit campaign.
Yusuf said Farage, who is under pressure over funds he received from wealthy donors, had received almost 600 death threats since February.
That was why, he said, Farage had accepted donations to fund his own security detail — an argument, among others, the Reform leader has used to justify his acceptance of a £5 million ($6.70 million) donation from a billionaire cryptocurrency investor.
"Those who question Nigel Farage's need for security should stop," Yusuf said.
Security measures were bolstered after Cox's murder, with lawmakers offered panic buttons and additional locks at their homes and offices. After Amess' murder, the Conservative government and parliament offered lawmakers trained security protection when meeting voters.
(Reporting by Elizabeth Piper and William JamesEditing by Ros Russell)
