Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, has claimed he was advised not to hold in-person surgeries in his Clacton constituency due to safety concerns. However, the Speaker’s Office has no record of issuing such guidance, according to a source close to Sky News.
Farage, speaking on LBC, explained that he had been told not to host physical meetings with constituents, citing fears of potential violence. “I’m not allowing the public to flow through the door with their knives in their pockets,” Farage said, referencing the tragic 2021 murder of Conservative MP Sir David Amess during a constituency surgery in Southend.
Asked whether he had been advised for his own security not to hold surgeries, Farage responded, “I would have thought that would make sense, wouldn’t you?” He further claimed that the advice came from the Speaker’s Office and its security team, who suggested limiting in-person interactions with the public for safety reasons.
However, a source informed Sky News that the Speaker’s Office has no record of telling Farage to avoid in-person surgeries. A spokesperson for the House of Commons declined to comment on specific security measures, but emphasized the importance of keeping MPs safe while allowing them to perform their duties.
“The ability for MPs to perform their parliamentary duties safely, both on and off the estate, is fundamental to our democracy,” the spokesperson said. They added that the Parliamentary Security Department, in collaboration with police, provides MPs with a range of security options to ensure a safe working environment.
Despite the Speaker’s Office having no record of the conversation, Farage remained firm in his stance. He highlighted the risks associated with in-person meetings, saying that he had not yet held any surgeries in Clacton since his election, citing the need for enhanced security.
“Do I have an office in Clacton? Yes. Am I allowing the public to flow through the door with their knives in their pockets? No, no I’m not,” Farage remarked.
A spokesperson for Reform UK reiterated Farage’s concerns, stating that the Parliamentary Security Department and the Home Office had advised against in-person surgeries until adequate security measures were in place to protect both Farage and his staff.
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