Security costs for MPs up by nearly a third last year

The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has revealed that MPs’ security costs increased by nearly a third last year and could rise further following the stabbing of Sir David Amess in October.

With overall MPs’ business costs amounting to nearly £138 million in 2020/21, the IPSA said that amount spent on security stood at £4.4 million for the financial year 2020/21, up from £3.4 million in 2019/20.

Sir David Amess, the Conservative MP for Southend West ,was fatally stabbed during a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea.

Richard Lloyd, IPSA chair, said: “Security spending has also increased in the last year, and could increase further this year (following the death of Sir David in October). Keeping MPs, their families, and their staff safe is absolutely vital for our democracy.”