Vicky Ford feared for her safety after security no-show at surgery

A politician said she feared for her safety after her promised security failed to show up to her constituency surgery on two occasions.

Conservative MP Vicky Ford said it was a "huge concern" when she realised there would be no protection at her clinic in Chelmsford on Friday.

She cited the murder of her fellow Essex MP Sir David Amess, who was stabbed to death at a surgery in 2021.

"I wish we didn't have to have the extra security but we do," said the MP.

Ms Ford said a police officer had to step in to cover as a guard earlier this year, and security failed to attend again on Friday.

Guards in place at constituency surgeries have helped to check that those in attendance were not carrying any weapons.

Last month, the government announced MPs facing threats to their safety would get extra security as part of a £31m package to protect the UK's democratic processes from disruption.

Ms Ford said it was a concern that security lapses had continued in light of Southend West MP Sir David's death.

"I understand I'm not the only MP this has happened to recently. It's a huge concern," she told BBC Essex.

The Chelmsford MP revealed that on Friday she looked at the people queuing for her surgery to assess if any of them posed a "physical risk".

"I also thought that if somebody was going to get violent at a surgery then telling them that I was going to cancel the surgery would probably have provoked more violence," she added.

Ms Ford raised her fears to the Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden in the House of Commons.

Mr Dowden said it was "concerning" to hear and vowed to establish how MPs could have a guaranteed security presence.

"We do take this threat extremely seriously, which is why we agreed an unprecedented increase in protective security for members of this house and other elected representatives," he added.

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