Government failing Farage over security, says Jenrick

Government failing Farage over security, says JenrickImage source, ReutersByJennifer McKiernanPolitical reporterPublished8 minutes agoReform UK's Treasury spokesman has accused the government of a "dereliction of duty" over Nigel Farage's taxpayer-funded security, claiming it had previously been "downgraded".Robert Jenrick said his party leader had not been offered the security he needs, after it emerged Reform UK turned down an offer of government-funded security last year.It comes as the alleged murder of Reform's Ann Widdecombe, which is now being investigated by counterterrorism police, has prompted renewed debate over the security offered to politicians.Farage is set to meet with the Home Office over his security arrangements, after accepting an offer of a meeting made by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Reform's Zia Yusuf has previously claimed parliamentary officials took the decision in September last year to cut Farage's publicly-funded security by 75%, with party donors stepping in to cover costs.Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Jenrick was asked to clarify whether the package offered to Farage was similar to that of Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.Asked if this was the offer Farage rejected because he felt it was insufficient, Jenrick replied: "That's right. Yes that's right."Decisions over the security of current MPs and members of the House of Lords are made by the House of Parliament's security team.There is a separate, independent committee, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC), to deal with high profile political candidates, which is staffed by officials from the Home Office, the Cabinet Office, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.Jenrick said: "Frankly I find it astonishing that, just a short period after he was elected to Parliament, the authorities, the government, chose to massively downgrade his security"."It shouldn...