MP Kim Leadbeater Warns Political Safety Worse Than When Sister Jo Cox Was Murdered
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater has delivered a stark warning that the safety of politicians is in a "much worse and less safe" state today than it was in 2016 when her sister, Jo Cox, was murdered. In an interview with the Press Association, the Spen Valley MP described the establishment of a new national democracy protection unit as the "right decision" but also profoundly "depressing" given the deteriorating climate.
A Decade of Deterioration
"I've been talking about this for 10 years since Jo was murdered, and having literally the same conversation I was having 10 years ago, but in an arguably much worse and less safe environment than it was then," Ms Leadbeater stated. She expressed frustration that more has not been done to prevent the situation from worsening, leaving her feeling both saddened and angry.
Ms Leadbeater, who considers her career choice daily amidst routine threats and abuse, revealed she carries "two or three different safety devices" and has extra security at her office and home. She emphasised that this abuse has become "normalised" among parliamentarians and often has a more "profound impact" on their staff, families, and friends.
Surge in Reported Crimes Against MPs
Official data underscores the escalating danger. Reports of crimes against MPs have more than doubled since 2019, reaching nearly 1,000 incidents last year alone. Between 2019 and 2025, MPs reported 4,064 offences to the Metropolitan Police's Parliamentary Liaison Team, with malicious communications, harassment, and criminal damage to buildings being the most common crimes.
In response, the Government last month appointed Deputy Chief Constable Chris Balmer of Cambridgeshire Police as the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for defending democracy. This new initiative aims to provide police forces with specialist support to assess threats and protect MPs, regional mayors, and councillors.
Broader Impact on Democracy and Society
Ms Leadbeater warned that these safety concerns have a "deep impact on our democracy," discouraging good people from entering or remaining in public life. However, she stressed this is "not just a political issue," pointing to parallel crises like rising retail crime. She cited a senior Marks & Spencer executive who said staff are "worried about coming into work" due to daily violence and abuse, including a recent incident where an employee was hospitalised after having ammonia thrown in their face.
"All anybody wants is to go to work and feel safe, to do their job properly, and that is whether you are an MP, that's whether you're a taxi driver, a shop worker, a nurse, whoever you are," Ms Leadbeater asserted.
Calls for Cultural Change Over Security Measures
While acknowledging the need for protective measures, Ms Leadbeater argued that taxpayers should not have to fund extensive security for MPs indefinitely. Her "big thing" is finding solutions to change the political culture and climate so elected officials do not have to be "wrapped up in cotton wool" and isolated from the public.
She called for politics to become more "respectful," avoiding personal attacks, and for media coverage to shift from amplifying confrontation to highlighting consensus. Ms Leadbeater also criticised social media for eroding nuanced debate and spreading misinformation and disinformation.
"We've got a really privileged job and we've got important work to do, but I don't want to spend my time as an MP talking about safety and security. I want to spend it trying to make a difference to people, trying to help people," she concluded, reflecting on the legacy of her sister, Jo Cox, who was murdered by a right-wing extremist during the 2016 EU referendum campaign in her Yorkshire constituency.
