Richard Tice Praises Commons Speaker After Zia Yusuf Criticism

Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice described Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle as “brilliant” just hours after his party colleague Zia Yusuf branded him “a coward”.

The pair appeared to be at odds over Hoyle’s approach to keeping MPs safe in the wake of the death of Ann Widdecombe.

The former Tory minister, who became a Reform spokeswoman, was found dead at her home in Devon on Thursday.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation.

Widdecombe’s death has led to claims by Reform politicians that not enough is being done by the authorities to keep them safe.

Yusuf, the party’s home affairs spokesman, said on Sunday parliament, the government and the police do not “care at all” about their MPs’ safety.

That sparked an angry response from Commons officials, who insisted “all MPs are offered appropriate security measures”.

It is also understood that Lindsay Hoyle spoke directly to Lee Anderson, Reform’s chief whip, about Yusuf’s remarks.

But in an angry rant on X on Monday, Yusuf hit back: “Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House, has no jurisdiction over me. I am not afraid of him.

“He is a bully who did not even reply to a letter from a female Reform MP pleading for assistance with security until after I revealed it. 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. He is a disgrace to his office.”

But in an interview with BBC’s Newsnight programme hours later, Richard Tice paid tribute to the Speaker’s attempts to protect MPs.

He said: “I had discussions with the Speaker in early January, including a letter when I said I feared something terrible and potentially fatal might happen.

“And the Speaker has been brilliant. His resolute determination about ensuring the security of all MPs is robust. But I’m afraid under him, we have found failings, we have found wantings.”

Meanwhile, Reform leader Nigel Farage has accepted an offer by home secretary Shabana Mahmood to meet the body responsible for organising security for public figures.

Reform has said it is now paying for round-the-clock security for their MPs.

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