Are British MPs Lying About Death Threats? | The Crime Agents

Three British politicians killed in just a decade. Jo Cox. David Amess. And now Ann Widdecombe. How has political violence in Britain reached this point? And why are most of our MPs still unprotected? In this episode, Andy and Neil trace the escalating pattern of attacks on politicians in the UK, explain how police and the Home Office decide who gets protection, and reveal why the number receiving it remains surprisingly low. They also explore the growing reliance on private security firms to fill the gaps, and the strain a record nine living former Prime Ministers is placing on already stretched resources. They're also joined by Philip Grindell, a former Met Detective turned private security expert who helped establish The Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team after Jo Cox's murder. Philip explains how the threat environment has changed, how he now protects high-profile individuals from targeted violence, and why he believes some MPs embellish the level of threats they receive when speaking publicly. Finally, Andy and Neil confront the difficult question: can we realistically protect more of our politicians, and what would it cost our democracy if we tried? The Crime Agents is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more content, please follow us: Watch us: /    / @thecrimeagents   Instagram:   / thecrimeagents   X: https://x.com/thecrimeagents Facebook:   / 61577363725141   BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thecrimeagen... Contact us at: thecrimeagents@global.com #thecrimeagents #thenewsagents #crime #crimepodcast #jocox #annwiddecombe #police #metpolice #mp #mpnews #politics #politicalnews