Concerns raised for MPs’ safety after Trump shooting

Concerns have been raised about the safety of MPs and the risk of political violence in the UK after the assassination attempt on former US president Donald Trump.

Shots were fired towards Mr Trump as he spoke at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on Saturday evening.

The presumptive Republican nominee has since been described as “safe” by a spokesperson and could be seen defiantly pumping his fist in the air after the shooting, in which one person was killed and two others critically injured.

UK politicians have said the incident highlights the risk of violence facing MPs, some of whom have faced intimidation and carry panic alarms.

Kim Leadbeater, the sister of murdered MP Jo Cox, said the attack on Mr Trump raised questions about “what a civilised democracy looks like”.

The Labour MP for Spen Valley, whose sister Ms Cox was killed by a far-right extremist in 2016, told BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg that “we are back again having that conversation about what democracy looks like, what our politics looks like”.

She added: “We have got to have that conversation about what a civilised democracy looks like.

“I have been having it since Jo was killed.

“I sadly feel that we are not making a huge amount of progress in this country and in other countries and we have got to keep having that conversation.”

Ms Cox’s husband, Brendan Cox, called for a “consensus against political violence in all forms”.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, he questioned Mr Trump’s own behaviour towards political opponents, adding: “But that doesn’t justify using violence against him. It undermines democracy & makes more violence more likely.

“We need a consensus against political violence in all forms.”

Ms Cox was one of two serving MPs to have been murdered in the past nine years – alongside Conservative Sir David Amess, who was fatally stabbed during a constituency surgery in October 2021.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who had milkshake and wet cement thrown at him during the election campaign, said politicians from all parties “are increasingly at risk”.

Also appearing on Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Farage said he had lived with a “narrative” built up around him which he said had led people to “hate” him.

“I have lived with this for a very long time,” he added.

“I think all MPs from all sides now are increasingly at risk – but I do think, I am sorry, but I do think mainstream media has a lot to do with this.”

The Clacton MP said MPs now had to balance security with meeting voters and risks of violence might mean “we finish up with our political leaders never meeting a voter, never meeting the public”.

House of Commons Leader Lucy Powell also spoke of the increased threat facing UK politicians.

She told Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “Clearly we have seen a rise in intimidation and attacks on serving politicians or people who want to be politicians in this country too.”

Ms Powell added there had been a “growing sense of insecurity and hate and attacks” which was “something that we need to take action on”.

She said some of her colleagues had experienced “intimidation in the streets when campaigning” and highlighted the risk of misinformation, including deepfakes, that “fuels hatred and has a dehumanising effect on individuals”.

A £31 million package to boost security measures for politicians – including providing MPs with a dedicated police safety liaison – was introduced by the then-government in February.

It came amid heightened tensions caused by protests around the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.