'Dereliction of duty!' Reform UK fires back over Labour's decision to cut Nigel Farage's security by 75%

Robert Jenrick has launched a scathing attack on Shabana Mahmood after offering a meeting to Nigel Farage over his security.

Speaking to GB News, the Reform UK MP criticised the Home Secretary's "appalling dereliction of duty" after previously cutting the Reform leader's security.

Confirming her offer to meet with Mr Farage today, Ms Mahmood told MPs: "I recognise the particular concern that the Reform Party will feel today, and of course Nigel Farage, the party’s leader.

"I’m happy to offer a meeting for Mr Farage with the chair of Ravec (Royal and VIP Executive Committee), the independent body within the Home Office that manages the security of those in public life."

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Criticising Ms Mahmood's decision in light of the death of Ann Widdecombe, Mr Jenrick told GB News: "The decision of the Government last year to massively reduce the security provided to Nigel Farage as the leader of Reform, as one, if not the most endangered member of Parliament in politician in Britain today, was clearly wrong.

"In fact, it placed him and his family in unacceptable danger. I don't believe that that would have been done to any other politician.

"It was because of his political views, because politicians in the home and civil servants in the Home Office do not like Reform. We know that, and they didn't provide him with the security that he needed."

Mr Jenrick argued: "It should not have taken the murder of Ann Widdecombe for Nigel Farage to be provided with a meeting to discuss his own security and that of Reform and fellow members of Parliament.

"That is an appalling dereliction of duty by Home Secretaries that they have made this go on so long."

The Reform MP called for Mr Farage's security to now be provided "in full" by the Government following the meeting.

He said: "Now, let's hope Nigel's security is provided in full, that he doesn't need to be doing this himself, and that the security of anyone else, frankly, in Parliament, is upgraded as a result of the failure of the Home Office to support Nigel and others in recent times."

Asked by host Michelle Dewberry if he personally feels more at risk following the death of Ms Widdecombe, Mr Jenrick agreed.

He revealed: "I've been living with this for some time myself. There's actually somebody standing trial at the moment in Surrey for death threats against me and my family.

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"I'm frequently receiving threats and have been for a number of years. Very little is actually done to support members of Parliament in this situation. It's usually very performative and ineffective.

"One of the incidents that I've been subject to, the police failed on multiple occasions to even take a statement from me. Another one, they lost the evidence. It is a very poor situation."

Mr Jenrick argued that in terms of risk, Mr Farage is "at the top of the list" after facing cuts "a couple of weeks after becoming an MP".

In October 2025, Reform UK claimed taxpayer-funded security for party leader Nigel Farage was reduced by 75 per cent by parliamentary officials, forcing Reform donors to step in to fund the remainder of his security.

Mr Jenrick told GB News: "I don't think members of Parliament are properly protected, but those who are in the greatest danger, and I think Nigel, without question, is in that category, maybe even at the top of the list should be provided with proper support.

"I do worry sometimes that politics comes into this and that it's very convenient that Nigel Farage's security was dropped a couple of weeks after he became a member of Parliament. Would that have happened to a Conservative or a Labour politician? I very much doubt it."

Reflecting on the death of Ms Widdecombe, Mr Jenrick said: "It didn't surprise me that the position that Nigel Farage had set out at the weekend, where he said that this was at least a possibility, has been vindicated.

"I'm sorry that so many people chose to criticise him for doing that, he was right and that should now be recognised.

"Clearly, we need the police to take this investigation forward and to ensure that whichever monster did this is now brought to justice, and we learn all the circumstances of why this happened."

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