As they sit in the hallowed halls of Westminster, Members of Parliament face an increasingly treacherous reality: death threats have become a daily occurrence, forcing many to live under the constant spectre of violence. This alarming trend has been exacerbated by the murders of Jo Cox and David Amess, highlighting the dire need for enhanced security measures to protect those who serve in our parliament.
Jess Phillips, Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, is all too familiar with the terror of receiving threats. In 2019, she was bombarded with hundreds of rape threats in a single night, and one particularly chilling message referenced the murder of her friend and fellow MP Jo Cox. Phillips stresses that these threats are not abstract or hypothetical – they are an ever-present reality that causes immense anxiety for herself, her staff, and her family. Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has also been vocal about receiving over 300 threats monthly, with his party documenting a staggering 1,577 threats against him since February.
The statistics paint a stark picture: between 2019 and 2025, MPs reported 4,064 crimes to the Metropolitan Police’s parliamentary liaison team. The number of alleged offences increased steadily from 364 in 2019 to 976 in 2025, with reported death threats rising from 31 to 50 during the same period. Perhaps most concerning is that female MPs and those from minority backgrounds are disproportionately targeted – a worrying trend that highlights the need for urgent action.
As the climate of abuse continues to intensify, concerns about its impact on future political engagement are growing. Treasury Chief Secretary Lucy Rigby has confessed that the prevalence of threats had caused her to reconsider standing for parliament, highlighting the “increasing climate of abuse and intimidation” as a significant deterrent. Others share this sentiment, fearing that the current atmosphere could discourage a diverse range of individuals from entering public service.
Despite these concerns, measures are being implemented to enhance MP safety. The Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, is prioritising security, while the new national democracy protection unit dedicated to MPs will provide specialist support to police forces. Decisions regarding current MPs’ and members of the House of Lords' security are managed by the Houses of Parliament’s security team, with an independent committee overseeing their safety.