Massive rise in MP security costs since Jo Cox murder

Since the murder of MP Jo Cox last June as she was campaigning in her Batley and Spen constituency, the total expenses claimed by MPs for security assistance have increased on a massive scale. From 2010/11 to 2015/16, the mean annual total was £73 thousand. In 2016/17 this rose to an astounding £2.55 million.

The figures, newly released by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) reflect the reaction to the shocking attack. In response, the IPSA has made it easier to get expenses, such as reinforced windows and bomb-proof letter boxes, signed off.