Isabel Hardman Isabel Hardman

Worried MPs call for expenses watchdog to be stripped of security role

Exasperated MPs have called for their security to be taken out of the hands of their expenses watchdog Ipsa after struggling to install additional protection at their homes and constituency offices following the death of Jo Cox.

Coffee House is aware of a number of battles between MPs of all parties and Ipsa over approval for the installation of additional locks and intruder alarms. Some MPs are particularly frustrated to have been told that it will take two weeks for the regulator to approve their spending applications, when they are worried about an imminent threat now. None wanted to speak on the record.

One MP said: ‘My constituency office is currently completely unprotected. And Ipsa are saying it is going to take two weeks to approve spending to change this, even though we are currently at increased risk of copy cat attacks from the far Right, regardless of what the motives behind Jo’s killing were.’

Other MPs said they had struggled to get approval for basic measures for many months. A number had become concerned about their personal security and the safety of their staff around the time of the Commons vote on action against Islamic State in Syria.

MPs are now pushing for a dedicated House of Commons security team to help with their personal security. They are concerned that the expenses watchdog doesn’t fully understand the pressures on parliamentarians, and is more worried about proving to taxpayers that it is cracking down on excess, even when extra security is a necessity for people in the public eye.

The Conservative MP and vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee Charles Walker said: ‘I really do think the time has come to seriously consider handing over responsibility for the security of members of parliament to the House of Commons and ideally a specialist team working within the Palace of Westminster.

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