Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stated that increasing security measures for Members of Parliament would be "expensive and pointless." His comments come in the wake of the murder of former minister Ann Widdecombe, which has reignited a debate over the safety of politicians. Reform UK, including party leader Nigel Farage, has advocated for new taxpayer-funded guards following Ms. Widdecombe's death at her Dartmoor home.

Johnson told Sky News that the focus should instead be on reducing public animosity towards politicians. He cited an incident earlier this year where Chancellor Rachel Reeves challenged a heckler, praising her response.

"I think people are more verbally aggressive with each other than [before]. I feel it's got a bit coarser, a bit rougher. That might put people off and they might not want their kids shouted at, that sort of thing," Johnson said when asked if politicians are deterred from public service due to danger.

He added, "What I think about all this is that actually it's probably expensive and pointless to try to raise everybody's level of security. But what we could do is dial down the general level of invective."

Johnson suggested that MPs should "take it in your stride and fire back," using Chancellor Reeves's encounter with a van driver as an example. The driver had heckled Reeves during a TV interview about fuel duty, questioning if he would be arrested for displaying St. George's flags on his vehicle. Reeves responded by saying, "I love our country, and one of the things about our country is good manners. Not very British."

This debate has intensified following the deaths of two serving MPs in the past decade: Labour's Jo Cox and Conservative Sir David Amess. The National Protective Security Authority (NPSA), part of MI5, has reportedly advised vulnerable, high-profile individuals, including politicians, to consider creating safe rooms in their homes to protect against potential violent threats when escape is not possible.

A 28-year-old suspect was reportedly in police custody in connection with Ann Widdecombe's murder.