Key facts
- MPs are experiencing a daily reality of death threats and abuse.
- The number of alleged offences against MPs has increased significantly.
- Female MPs and those from minority backgrounds are disproportionately targeted.
- Two MPs have been murdered in the past decade.
- New security measures and a national protection unit are being implemented for MPs.
Members of Parliament are facing an escalating climate of abuse and intimidation, with death threats becoming a daily reality for many. Jess Phillips, MP for Birmingham Yardley, described receiving hundreds of rape threats and a white supremacist sending her a picture of her murdered friend, Jo Cox. She stated that the threats cause terrible anxiety and guilt for her family and staff.
The issue has gained renewed focus following reports of counter-terrorism police investigating threats against Ann Widdecombe. Nigel Farage revealed he receives over 300 threats monthly, and Reform UK has recorded 1,577 threats against him since February. Trade minister Chris Bryant and Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin have also spoken out about the severity of threats, with Jenkin suggesting MPs are more likely to meet a violent death than members of the armed forces or police.
Alex Davies-Jones, former victims' minister, noted that threats are a weekly occurrence for most MPs she knows, leading to constant alertness and a feeling of increased aggression from the public. Another MP recounted being aggressively confronted over the Gaza conflict, highlighting how discussions can devolve into attacks. The fear is not hypothetical, as two MPs, Jo Cox and David Amess, have been murdered in the past decade by extremists.
Data shows a significant increase in reported crimes against MPs, with 4,064 incidents reported to the Metropolitan police's parliamentary liaison team between 2019 and 2025. The number of alleged offences rose from 364 in 2019 to 976 in 2025, including a rise in reported death threats. Female MPs and those from minority backgrounds are disproportionately targeted. Treasury chief secretary Lucy Rigby indicated that such threats have made her reconsider standing for parliament, emphasizing the impact of online abuse and intimidation.
Security measures for MPs have been enhanced, described as an "obsession" for Speaker Lindsay Hoyle. Specialist support from a new national democracy protection unit is being offered to police forces. MPs have access to local police contacts, panic buttons, bomb-proof letterboxes, and toughened glass. However, Phillips stressed that the root cause of the threats, often amplified by algorithms, needs to be addressed, alongside MPs' own rhetoric.