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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Dan Haygarth

Nigel Farage: Police arrest man after ‘threat to shoot’ Reform UK leader

  • A man has been arrested in London on suspicion of sending threatening communications to Reform UK leader Nigel Farage , following a social media post in May that stated, "I am going to shoot you in the head if you win."
  • The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of a man in his 20s on Tuesday, 14 July, after receiving a report on 8 May and obtaining user information from the social media platform; the suspect has since been bailed pending further enquiries.
  • Nigel Farage expressed surprise at the police's proactive response, noting that numerous similar threats against him in the past had not met the threshold for police action.
  • The incident has intensified calls for improved security for Members of Parliament, particularly following the recent killing of Ann Widdecombe, with Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, and incoming prime minister Andy Burnham all advocating for a review of MP safety.
  • Reform UK has proposed increasing the budget for MP security from £4 million to £100 million and, through its home affairs spokesperson Zia Yusuf, accused politicians and the media of creating a "relentless narrative" amounting to "incitement" against the party.

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