Politics
Zia Yusuf called out over claim Reform MPs receive no security
Zia Yusuf has received criticism over his claim that the state provides Reform MPs with “no protection whatsoever”.
Given the way this headline is worded, many are (understandably) taking it to mean Reform MPs have been given police protection by the state.
I want to clarify that the opposite is true.
The state is providing no protection whatsoever. In fact, based on what I have seen in the… pic.twitter.com/TaFZzEMNkH
— Zia Yusuf (@ZiaYusufUK) July 12, 2026
Zia Yusuf: Nobody ‘cares about security of Reform MPs’
The headline Yusuf was responding to read:
Reform MPs given 24-hour protection in Widdecombe murder hunt
In full, Yusuf’s response read:
Given the way this headline is worded, many are (understandably) taking it to mean Reform MPs have been given police protection by the state.
I want to clarify that the opposite is true.
The state is providing no protection whatsoever.
In fact, based on what I have seen in the last 48 hours, none of the government, the Speaker nor the police care at all about the security of Reform MPs.
Several of our MPs have written to the above in recent months about distressing, escalating security concerns, asking for help.
Their correspondence was not even replied to.
I will let you draw your own conclusions from this.
Since Yusuf made these claims, multiple MPs have come forwards to dispute them, including Rosie Duffield, an Independent MP for Canterbury, Whitstable and the villages.
Every single sitting MP is entitled to security provided by @HouseofCommons. This also covers our outside engagements.
— Rosie Duffield MP (@RosieDuffield1) July 12, 2026
An MP messages: “Each MP is afforded personal security at their advice surgery and constituency engagements should they wish.
“We’re also able to make use of physical security measures at our homes and offices – including cameras, door strengthening devices, and alarm systems.… https://t.co/6gM8MYu8WJ
— Kevin Schofield (@KevinASchofield) July 12, 2026
Commentator Dan Hodges said:
Zia Yusuf’s statement was untrue. And he knew it was untrue. It had one purpose. To try and deflect from legitimate scrutiny of Nigel Farage.
Hodges also called out Reform mayor, Andrea Jenkyns:
A perfect example of how Reform are manipulating the security issue. Yesterday morning Andrea talked about how security had been provided for her surgeries. But this contradicted Zia Yusuf. So by the evening she was claiming she’d had “zero” support. https://t.co/UTGcpcVYD6
— (((Dan Hodges))) (@DPJHodges) July 13, 2026
Zia Yusuf vs Lindsay Hoyle
The Sun’s political editor noted the following:
Hearing that Lindsay Hoyle has spoken to Reform chief whip Lee Anderson over Zia Yusuf's claims that he doesn't care about their MPs' security.
Sounds like the Speaker is not very happy, to say the least.
— Jack Elsom (@JackElsom) July 13, 2026
Yusuf is now feuding with the speaker of the house, as you’d expect from him.
He said:
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.
Yusuf doesn’t have to worry about Hoyle because he isn’t an MP and neither is Yusuf because his own party keeps blocking him from standing, which the Canary explored why this could be.
What goes around comes around
Another point people are raising is that Reform politicians pursue a maximally divisive form of politics. Despite this, they’re also the first to complain that they face hostility. You really can’t have it both ways.
If you’re going to label people ‘traitors’ — as Zia Yusuf has — then people are going to get angry. If you’re going to claim successive governments have overseen an ‘invasion’ — as he has — then tensions are going to rise.
Politicians who stoke fear and division think they can ride the wave, but hatred is more like a fire than a sea. And people who play with fire get burned.
Featured image via the Canary
By Willem Moore
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