Nigel Farage accepts Shabana Mahmood's security meeting offer after Reform gives MPs 24/7 protection
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has accepted Shabana Mahmood's invitation to attend an urgent security meeting.
Mr Farage, who is no longer a sitting MP after resigning to trigger a by-election in Clacton, confirmed he will meet with the Royal and VIP Executive Committee's chairman.
The Home Secretary extended an olive branch to Mr Farage amid security concerns following the alleged murder of former Tory minister and Reform UK member Ann Widdecombe.
"I will meet with the Chair of Ravec and discuss the security of all Reform politicians, including those who are not MPs."
Ravec, which is led by Sir Richard Mottram, is responsible for determining the security arrangements for members of the Royal Family and other high-profile public figures.
Ms Mahmood confirmed to MPs in the House of Commons this afternoon that Mr Farage would receive an invitation to discuss taxpayer-funded security.
She said: “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.
“I will also be looking at what security guidance can be provided to former members of Parliament, which I hope to work with you on, Mr Speaker, as well as those who serve a party outside of this place.”
The Home Secretary, who heaped praise on Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice for his tribute to Ms Widdecombe, also confirmed the main suspect was not known to Prevent.
However, the invitation for Mr Farage to meet Ravec's chief comes just months after Reform UK claimed the Home Office cut the party's taxpayer-funded security detail by 75 per cent.
Mr Farage later defended receiving a £5million gift from cryptocurrency billionaire Christopher Harborne as part of his efforts to cover the cost of his security detail.
The gift, alongside cash given by Mr Farage's long-time ally George Cottrell, now forms part of a parliamentary probe into the Reform UK leader's finances.
The 62-year-old consistently denies any wrongdoing and triggered a by-election in Clacton over the matter.
Reform UK is now providing its own MPs with 24/7 security protection following Ms Widdecombe's death.
Mr Farage said: “We all get abusive emails in public life. I can tell you that we have not been able to discern a specific pattern.
“I think quite often with these cases, you would see an email from an individual that would come again, and again, and again, and again, and again.
“General abuse, yes, it goes with public life, whether in football or politics or music, or whatever it is.”
Ms Widdecombe, a former Tory minister who defected to the Brexit Party in 2019, was killed at her £600,000 bungalow in Devon last Wednesday.
A 28-year-old man was arrested in connection with the murder investigation around 200 miles away in South Yorkshire.
Counter-terror police have taken over the investigation after new evidence pointed to a potential motive.
The suspect, a white British national, has now been re-arrested on suspicion of commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.