Lindsay Hoyle responds to Zia Yusuf claims over MPs security after death of Ann Widdecombe

Sir Lindsay Hoyle has affirmed that MPs raising security concerns are treated equally, regardless of their political party.

His comments follow suggestions from a Reform UK spokesperson that he was not taking his duties seriously.

Speaking in Parliament after the death of Ann Widdecombe, the Commons Speaker reiterated that MPs’ concerns were always "passed on to the security people to deal with".

The criticism came from Zia Yusuf, Reform’s home affairs spokesman, who had claimed in a post on X that MPs from his party were not being given protection.

Ms Widdecombe, a former Conservative minister and later a Reform spokesperson, was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor on Thursday, having sustained serious injuries.

Devon and Cornwall Police on Sunday said detectives were “open-minded” about a potential motive.

The force initially denied there was “information to suggest that this is a terrorism-related incident”, although acknowledged its officers were being supported by counter-terrorism police.

On Monday, counter-terrorism police took the lead in the investigation after new information and evidence came to light.

Mr Yusuf on Sunday wrote that “none of the Government, the Speaker nor the police care at all about the security of Reform MPs”.

He added: “Several of our MPs have written to the above in recent months about distressing, escalating security concerns, asking for help.

“Their correspondence was not even replied to.”

Sir Lindsay appeared to reject the claim on Monday, when he told MPs: “Every member of Parliament is equal in their security to me – there is no difference between any member, I want to reassure you.

“When things are brought to my attention – because we don’t discuss security, I don’t put out there what is happening, what has been done – but I reassure everybody that when it is mentioned to me, it is passed on to the security people to deal with.

“Unfortunately, I’m sorry that people don’t think I do that.”

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who made a statement on Miss Widdecombe’s death, also said MPs were “treated equally” by the Speaker.

“This is a position shared by the Government,” she added.

Ms Mahmood earlier offered Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, a meeting with the chairman of the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec).

“I recognise the particular concern that the Reform Party will feel today, and of course Nigel Farage, the party’s leader,” she told MPs.

Mr Farage has thanked the Home Secretary in a post on X.

“I will meet with the chair of Ravec and discuss the security of all Reform politicians, including those who are not MPs,” he said.

Also speaking in the Commons chamber, Diane Abbott said online activity had a role to play in MPs’ security.

She said tech had made abuse and threats against politicians “much much worse” than when she was first elected in 1987.

The independent MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington said: “We need to find a way to make some of these online companies more accountable for the threats and the violence that they allow on their platforms.”

And Labour deputy leader Lucy Powell urged Ms Mahmood to “tackle some of the online algorithms and business models which heighten” threats against MPs.

The Home Secretary replied: “We do absolutely have to do more as a Government and as a society to know exactly what the boundaries are between passionate, contested, fierce debate of the kind that Ann Widdecombe herself engaged in, and then behaviour that spills into threats and harassment of the kind that is designed to drive people out of public life.”

Richard Tice, the Reform UK deputy leader, rose to his feet to pay tribute to Miss Widdecombe.

“Her conviction, her passion and her advocacy for free speech was to be commended,” he told MPs.

“I had the honour of working with her for the last seven years and despite being a foot taller than her, I somehow always found myself looking up.”

Referring to updates from the police, Mr Tice asked: “Would it be wise when considering motivation, when giving us early updates, to keep things being open-ended as opposed to ruling things out too quickly that may then end up being ruled back in?”

Ms Mahmood replied: “We will of course make sure that as and when it is possible to share more information about the circumstances of the murder and the motivation that that is done so in the appropriate way.

“And also to reassure him – at no point has anything been taken off the table in terms of the investigation.

“It’s a live investigation, it is not unusual in these matters that, in a fast-paced investigation, more information comes to light that changes the nature or the character of what we are dealing with.”

Earlier on Monday, Downing Street urged anybody who might have information about Miss Widdecombe’s death to contact the police.

“I think the police have been very clear – haven’t they? – that this is a live murder investigation,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

“And we would just echo that it’s important that the integrity of this investigation is protected and supported as they carry out this work.”