Nigel Farage's concerns about his security have been ignored or disbelieved, the deputy leader of Reform UK claimed today, after the man accused of Ann Widdecombe's murder was also charged with offences against him.
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man → ignore → him
Joshua Kerry, 28, who was charged in July with murdering the former Reform UK spokeswoman and Conservative minister Ms Widdecombe, 78, at her remote Devon home was charged yesterday with preparing acts of terror including against the Reform UK leader between May 2024 and July 2026.
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who → charge → May
Richard Tice said it was 'particularly upsetting' for those around Mr Farage that 'sometimes he is not being believed or listened to'.
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he → say → Farage
'We have got a sense of deep regret over everything that has happened over a long period of time,' he told the BBC, talking about his 'deep shock' over the new charges against Kerry.
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he → get → Kerry
'With regard to Nigel Farage his security and the risks to it - he has talked about on many occasions over many years - and I think what is particularly upsetting for those around him is sometimes he is not being believed or listened to.
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he → talk → him
'For all of us in public life and in politics, security is there as a concept but when things occur that are very close to home so to speak it's pretty shocking and makes one take a big intake of breath.'
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one → occur → breath
Mr Tice said that Ms Widdecombe's tragic murder had 'without question' made 'everybody take security more seriously' and had been a 'significant wake up call', including having a 'big personal impact'.
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everybody → say → impact
He also revealed that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood who expressed her shock at the new charges and said 'an attack on anyone in politics is an attack on us all', had followed up on her July promise to discuss security with Mr Farage.
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attack → reveal → Farage
Joshua Kerry, of Rotherham, South Yorkshire, was charged on Friday with one count of preparation of terrorist acts under the Terrorism Act 2006
Richard Tice (left) said it was 'particularly upsetting' for those around Mr Farage that 'sometimes he is not being believed or listened to'
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he → charge → Farage
'A number of meetings have taken place with a number of people at a high level of Reform,' he told Radio 4's Today programme.
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he → take → programme
'Obviously things are kept under close and constant review with regards to the information and intel I now get on threats towards myself and others.
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I → keep → myself
It is a very significant shift in the approach taken by the authorities and we appreciate that.'
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we → take → that
Mr Tice said that he was 'grateful' for Ms Mahmood's remarks and was 'right that it is an attack on anybody who goes into the world of politics'.
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who → say → politics
And he revealed how his own life had 'changed', including a security threat against him which happened near Parliament causing an immediate police response.
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which → reveal → response
It has had an impact.
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It → have → impact
I now have security arrangements and one is constantly thinking when you are in any building 'do we know the back exit? Do we know the front exit?'.
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we → have → exit
Those are the sorts of consequences you see on TV in films but it has actually become a reality.
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it → see → films
'Those are some of the thoughts when one goes to events in the public arena and gives speeches and things – it changes things and that's just a consequence of the world we live in.'
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we → go → world
He warned that the climate of abuse and threat against MPs was now deterring people from taking a role in public life and making democracy less accessible.
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democracy → warn → life
I know from just talking to various other MPs that female MPs receive the most horrific torrent of abuse and misogynistic attacks.
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MPs → know → abuse
Not only is it wrong and horrendous in itself but of course the broader picture in politics and public life is that it acts as a deterrent to other good people who are thinking about making a difference in whatever walk of public life and are then taking a step back and are thinking 'is that really what I want for my family?'
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I → act → family
That hits us all.'
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That → hit → us
He also said practical protection measures like the 'additional pretty large fences erected outside' Parliament were an 'unfortunate consequence' of the increased security threat against MPs.
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measures → say → MPs
'It's now harder to essentially feel a part of the democratic process,' he said.
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he → feel → process
The charge is said to include actions planned against Reform UK leader Nigel Farage
He also warned that the area around Parliament was the most dangerous for MPs as a 'cauldron' of people including 'lone individuals' descended on it, saying armed police had already had to descend to protect him from a potential threat.
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police → say → threat
'I have experienced personally that one of the most dangerous areas is the quarter to half a mile radius right outside the Houses of Parliament,' he said.
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he → experience → Parliament
'It's a cauldron for people to come to - on the one hand for legitimate process but also for lone individuals to come.
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individuals → come → process
I have had a personal pretty grim experience which resulted in armed police having to attend at very great speed and at very short notice so these are the challenges we all face.'
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we → have → notice
Warning that 'the online world has clearly hindered this whole process' of security for MPs, he denied accusations from BBC presenter Simon Jack that Reform had 'been complicit in dialling up the temperature' which 'bled into online rage and 'this level of threat for your security'.
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which → warn → security
Mr Tice said the 'passions that flow through democratic debate should be completely separate to the way that people respond and it's not an excuse to say 'I didn't like those words so I am going to attack someone!'
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I → say → someone
It's the nature of democracy and part of the joy of it is the robust debate but you should be able to shake hands at the end as I did yesterday on a BBC Any Questions debate – you have the debate and then you shake hands but sometimes yes it gets lively and it gets spicy.'
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it → shake → hands
He said if politics got to the stage where people said 'if you didn't speak like that, then you wouldn't be attacked' we would end up 'with very turgid and very boring and static sort of radio debates'.
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we → say → debates
The Home Secretary has pledged to update Parliament 'on work to strengthen protections for those who choose to serve'.
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who → pledge → those
Mr Tice said that he did not know what the measures were but 'looked forward to hearing that when she presents that to the House'.
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she → say → House
Earlier Reform UK told the BBC that this is 'exactly why Nigel needed £5m to protect his security for life'.
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Nigel → tell → life
The Reform leader has always claimed the money was for his personal security because of the threats he faced.
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he → claim → threats
Kerry, from Rotherham, is due to appear in court over the terror charge on Wednesday, police said.
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police → appear → Wednesday
Frank Ferguson of the Crown Prosecution Service's Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division said prosecutors 'worked closely' with police to bring the charge and would continue to work alongside them as the investigation continued.
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investigation → say → them
Ms Widdecombe, former Conservative MP for Maidstone in Kent for 23 years and a minister in John Major's government in the 1990s, was found dead on Thursday 9 July at her home.
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Widdecombe → find → home
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