SECURITY FEARS
MPs could get bodyguards in a bid to beef up security after threats from Islamic extremists, Rishi tells Piers
Rishi Sunak also told Piers Morgan he has an incredible team of people whose job it is to keep me safe
BODYGUARDS could be provided to all MPs in a bid to beef up their security, Rishi Sunak has said.
The Prime Minister's suggestion comes after Tory minister Mike Freer announced he would be quitting Parliament over death threats and intimidation because of his pro-Israel views.
2
2
In an hour-long interview for TalkTV with Piers Morgan, the broadcaster suggested giving all MPs a security guard could be a good idea.
The PM replied: "I mean, look, there may well be an argument for that."
The Prime Minister said what Mr Freer had to endure was "awful" and stressed MPs' security is "something constantly being reviewed".
But he also spoke about the importance of looking at the "ideology that is driving that kind of behaviour" to ensure "we tackle it at its root".
READ MORE ON POLITICS
Mr Freer revealed last week he and his staff had started wearing stab vests after learning he had narrowly avoided being attacked by Islamist terrorist Ali Harbi Ali, who went on to murder Southend West MP Sir David Amess in 2021.
He also said he had also received death threats from a group calling themselves Muslims Against Crusades.
Mr Sunak told Piers: "What we can’t have is that kind of extremist ideology festering in communities, on our streets, that leads people to behave in that particular way, and I think that is equally as important.”
The PM also described the rise of antisemitism over the last few months as "appalling".
Most read in The Sun
He said the Government is providing more funding to the organisations that protect Jewish places of faith and that he is talking to the police about "where extra powers are needed to properly police these protests".
Mr Sunak explained: "So that is a conversation where I have been very clear; if we think that there are new powers that they need in order to effectively deal with some of the things we are all seeing, then we are very open to doing that and legislating and bringing forward quite tough things.
Rishi Sunak admits the Government have failed on their pledge to get NHS waiting lists down
"But right now, if there is someone who is breaking the law I have been very clear with all the police: those people should face the full force of the law; they should have absolutely no tolerance for this."
- Watch the full interview on Piers Morgan Uncensored’s YouTube channel on Monday at 2pm and on TalkTV at 8pm on Monday
I want my girls to walk home safely at night, we must give cops more powers to tackle knife crime, Rishi tells Piers
RISHI Sunak has said he wants his two daughters to grow up in a society that is "safe".
The PM spoke about the need to put more police officers on the street and to give them the "tough powers they need to confiscate knives".
His comments came after Piers Morgan asked him about his own safety and whether he had threats against him.
The Prime Minister said he is "very fortunate" to have "an incredible team of people whose job it is to keep me safe", adding: "It comes with the territory".
He went on: "People may remember, people came and protested at my house which is obviously slightly unsettling – I think that happened literally while I was on my way over to the States with you on the plane, that was happening… And that is unnerving, because you know when your home is invaded in that way you feel very vulnerable.
"But it isn’t just about me, it actually goes to a broader thing, I want my two girls to grow up in a society that’s safe. I am quite focused on putting more police officers on the street, crucially giving them the tough powers they need to confiscate knives off people - which is really important – make sure we have things like CCTV and street lighting so you know girls like mine when they grow up and women can feel safe when they walk home at night. Again, that is the type of society… that I want us to have.”