Reform UK's home affairs spokesman Zia Yusuf has launched a blistering attack on Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, calling him a 'bully' and a 'coward' in a furious row over MPs' security. The outburst followed the death of senior Reform member Ann Widdecombe, which is being investigated as a potential murder.
Yusuf Accuses Speaker of Bullying
Yusuf claimed the Government and police have 'no care at all about the security of Reform MPs'. He said: 'The state is providing no protection whatsoever.' Sir Lindsay was reportedly enraged by the accusation and confronted Reform UK chief whip Lee Anderson. But an incensed Yusuf hit back, stating the Speaker 'has no jurisdiction over me'.
Public Challenge on Social Media
Yusuf taunted Sir Lindsay in a post on X, saying: 'I am not afraid of him.' He branded the Speaker 'a bully' and alleged that Sir Lindsay had not replied to a letter from a female Reform MP 'pleading for assistance with security' until Yusuf revealed it publicly. Yusuf wrote: 'If this is not true, then I invite him to deny it on the record rather than try and bully the very people he has let down. Instead, he briefs the press like a coward,' calling him 'a disgrace to his office'.
House of Commons Response
A House of Commons spokesperson said: 'The ability of members and their staff to perform their parliamentary duties safely, both on and off the estate, is fundamental to our democracy. Any assessment of an individual MP's security arrangements or advice is subject to a rigorous risk-based assessment, conducted by security professionals and with input from the police and a range of professional authorities. These are naturally kept under continuous review. All MPs are offered appropriate security measures, but we do not comment on specific cases or details of those measures so as not to compromise the safety of MPs, parliamentary staff or members of the public.'
Context of the Row
The row erupted in the aftermath of Ann Widdecombe's death, with police issuing a new update on the motive behind the suspected killing. The Daily Express has approached Sir Lindsay for comment.
