New MPs struggle to set up offices due to security threats and high rents
Newly elected MPs are struggling to set up offices in their constituencies due to fears for their safety and spiralling rents, Sky News has learnt.
Several MPs who spoke to Sky News said they believed landlords were becoming increasingly reluctant to have them as tenants due to the perceived risks that came with the job – which one likened to the debanking row that engulfed Nigel Farage last year.
The combination of rising rents and increased security requirements has meant that some MPs have felt unable to have constituency offices on high streets and in buildings with shop windows, where they are visible and easily accessible to the public.
In some cases, they said they had received security advice recommending that they do not have very visible offices due to the need for enhanced protection.
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One MP said they were currently subletting a shopfront for their constituency office while they looked for somewhere more suitable long-term because the safety was not up to standard.
“Because budgets for renting are so tight and landlords are so scared of controversy, MPs are now struggling to be in their communities,” they told Sky News.
“There is a real conflict in that you want to appeal to your constituents, but the people who work for you and do casework are very mindful of some of the challenges of being in an open shop window and the threats that exist.
“Ultimately you can go and rent somewhere but it may not be appropriate for the work we are trying to do. The one compromise you can’t make is the safety and security of your people.”
MPs’ safety has been a longstanding cause for concern, with fears heightening since the murders of Jo Cox and Sir David Amess in 2016 and 2021, respectively.
Last year, the issue was thrust into the spotlight after Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons speaker, admitted that fears over the safety of MPs had been a factor in his decision-making in a contentious vote over the war in Gaza.
Jo Stevens, now the Welsh Secretary, had her constituency office in Cardiff vandalised following the vote, with the words “murderer” sprayed on the walls.
The office of Mike Freer MP following an arson attack.
Pic: Mike Freer
And Mike Freer, the former Conservative MP for Finchley and Golders Green, stood down at the last election following an arson attack on his office in December 2023.
In October, the House of Commons agreed to set up the Speaker’s conference with a new committee chaired by Sir Lindsay to discuss the issue of MPs’ safety and the effectiveness of the response to the threats they face.
‘We are less visible when trust is already low’
A Labour MP said there was now a “nervousness” among landlords that MPs may prove to be risky clients and that there was concern potential damage to their buildings may not be covered by insurance.
They said the issues combined meant the nature of the job was now changing.
“People now want to be in big, closed-off office blocks rather than high street locations that people can pop into.
“It’s almost similar to the de-banking scandal,” they added, referring to how some banks have refused to open bank accounts for some holders that could be deemed to pose a risk to the bank’s reputation.
“Because of these security concerns, we’ve got a new generation of MPs who are far less visible at a time when there’s already not a lot of trust in politics and politicians, and we don’t know yet what the consequences will be,” the MP added.
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Mike Freer blames social media for threats
For the MPs who do want to rent an office on a high street – particularly in and around London – the rise in rents has made it “near impossible” to find one that offers value for money.
Budgets for renting out constituency offices are set by the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA), which also decides MPs’ pay.
For the financial year 2024-25, IPSA’s budget for entire office costs – extending beyond rent – was Ā£36,500 for London, and Ā£33,020 for non-London MPs.
One Labour MP in a new constituency in the capital said IPSA’s office finding service had struggled to find anything affordable in their area, forcing them to share a neighbouring MP’s office in the short term.
Paul Kohler, the Liberal Democrat MP for Wimbledon, told Sky News he was currently using a party campaign office while he looked for a more suitable one for constituency work.
“Clearly we want somewhere that is accessible to the public but the high street is not a cheap place to rent,” he said, adding: “The offices that are affordable aren’t suitable.”
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On top of the office costs budget, IPSA has a separate budget for security costs.
For the financial year 2022-23, the most recent year for which data is available, the total amount spent on security assistance for MPs was Ā£3.3m.
Sky News understands that IPSA has been made aware of a couple of incidents where landlords have withdrawn offers of rent after learning the prospective tenant is an MP.
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‘The abuse of MPs is normalised’
An IPSA spokesperson told Sky News: “We support MPs with finding suitable constituency offices, including offering advice on how to secure properties which fit within their budgets.
“Some of the things we encourage MPs to consider include looking at more affordable spaces away from the high street, opting to hire venues for engagement with constituents, considering serviced offices, renting or subletting from the local party.
“We review budgets every year and take into account economic indicators and market information, as well as available information on commercial rents. We then make recommendations for any adjustments to the budgets, which are considered by our board.”
A House of Commons spokesperson said: “The ability for MPs to perform their parliamentary duties safely, both on and off the estate, is fundamental to our democracy.
“The parliamentary security department, working closely with the police, offer all MPs a range of security measures for those with offices or surgeries in their constituencies – helping to ensure a safe working environment.
“We do not comment on individual MPs’ security arrangements or advice because we would not wish to compromise the safety of MPs, parliamentary staff or members of the public, but these are kept under continuous review.”
It was perhaps not quite how officials, in London at least, had envisaged the announcement of the state visit would be made.
In the Oval Office, Donald Trump revealed the news in his own way.
“I was invited by the King and the great country. They are going to do a second fest – that’s what it is. It is beautiful,” he said during an impromptu Oval Office moment.
The question was, did this “fest” – which Mr Trump suggested could happen in September – amount to the much hyped second state visit for the American president?
Or was this actually just the smaller visit that had been offered two months ago as an initial bilateral visit at which the state visit would be discussed?
Back in February, Sir Keir Starmer presented the president with a letter from King Charles and the offer of a state visit.
The letter proposed an initial meeting between the King and the president to discuss details of the state visit at either Dumfries House or Balmoral, both in Scotland, close to Mr Trump’s golf clubs.
The King wrote: “Quite apart from this presenting an opportunity to discuss a wide range of issues of mutual interest, it would also offer a valuable chance to plan a historic second state visit to the United Kingdomā¦ As you will know this is unprecedented by a US president. That is why I would find it helpful for us to be able to discuss, together, a range of options for location and programme content.”
As he revealed the news of his “fest” with his “friend Charles”, Mr Trump said: “I think they are setting a date for Septemberā¦”
Sources have since confirmed to Sky News that it will amount to the full state visit.
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Sir Keir Starmer handed Trump the invite earlier this year. Pic: Reuters
‘Even more important’
It’s possible the initial less formal presidential trip may still happen between now and September. Mr Trump is in Europe for the NATO summit in June and is due in Scotland to open a new golf course soon too.
“It is the second time it has happened to one person. The reason is we have two separate terms, and it’s an honour to be a friend of King Charles and the family, William,” the president said.
“I don’t know how it can be bigger than the last one. The last one was incredible, but they say the next one will be even more important.”
His last state visit in 2019, at the invitation of the late Queen, drew significant protests epitomised by the giant blow-up “Baby Trump” which floated over Parliament Square.
The president was hosted by the Queen in June 2019. Pic: Reuters
Britain’s trump card
September is a little earlier than had been expected for the visit. It may be an advantage for it to happen sooner rather than later, given the profoundly consequential and controversial nature of the first few months of his second term.
The decision by the British government to play its “state visit trump card” up front back in February drew some criticism.
And since February, Mr Trump’s position on numerous issues has been increasingly at odds with all of America’s allies.
On Ukraine, he has seemingly aligned himself closely with Vladimir Putin. His tariffs have caused a global economic shock. And on issues like Greenland and Canada, a member of the Commonwealth, he has generated significant diplomatic shock.
A risk worth taking
Mr Trump is as divisive among the British public as he is in America. Sir Keir is already walking a political tightrope by choosing the softly softly approach with the White House.
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The UK government chose not to retaliate against Mr Trump’s tariffs, unlike some allies. Sir Keir and his cabinet have been at pains not to be seen to criticise the president in any way as they seek to influence him on Ukraine and seek an elusive economic deal on tariffs.
On that tariff deal, despite some positive language from the US side and offers on the table, there has yet to be a breakthrough. A continuing challenge is engaging with the president for decisions and agreements only he, not his cabinet, will make.
British officials acknowledge the risk the state visit poses. In this presidency, anything could happen between now and September.
But they argue British soft power and Mr Trump’s fondness for the Royal Family and pomp – or a “fest” as he calls it – amount to vital diplomatic clout.
For a special relationship under strain, a special state visit is the tonic.
Politics
Laws may need to be bolstered to crack down on exploitation of child ‘influencers’, senior MP suggests
Laws may need to be strengthened to crack down on the exploitation of child “influencers”, a senior Labour MP has warned.
Chi Onwurah, chair of the science, technology and innovation committee, said parts of the Online Safety Act – passed in October 2023 – may already be “obsolete or inadequate”.
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Experts have raised concerns that there is a lack of provision in industry laws for children who earn money through brand collaborations on social media when compared to child actors and models.
This has led to some children advertising in their underwear on social media, one expert has claimed.
Those working in more traditional entertainment fields are safeguarded by performance laws, which strictly govern the hours a minor can work, the money they earn and who they are accompanied by.
The Child Influencer Project, which has curated the world’s first industry guidelines for the group, has warned of a “large gap in UK law” which is not sufficiently filled by new online safety legislation.
Official portrait of Chi Onwurah.
Pic: UK Parlimeant
The group’s research found that child influencers could be exposed to as many as 20 different risks of harm, including to dignity, identity, family life, education, and their health and safety.
Ms Onwurah told Sky News there needs to be a “much clearer understanding of the nature of child influencers ‘work’ and the legal and regulatory framework around it”.
She said: “The safety and welfare of children are at the heart of the Online Safety Act and rightly so.
“However, as we know in a number of areas the act may already be obsolete or inadequate due to the lack of foresight and rigour of the last government.”
Victoria Collins, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for science, innovation and technology, agreed that regulations “need to keep pace with the times”, with child influencers on social media “protected in the same way” as child actors or models.
“Liberal Democrats would welcome steps to strengthen the Online Safety Act on this front,” she added.
‘Something has to be done’
MPs warned in 2022 that the government should “urgently address the gap in UK child labour and performance regulation that is leaving child influencers without protection”.
They asked for new laws on working hours and conditions, a mandate for the protection of the child’s earnings, a right to erasure and to bring child labour arrangements under the oversight of local authorities.
However, Dr Francis Rees, the principal investigator for the Child Influencer Project, told Sky News that even after the implementation of the Online Safety Act, “there’s still a lot wanting”.
“Something has to be done to make brands more aware of their own duty of care towards kids in this arena,” she said.
Dr Rees added that achieving performances from children on social media “can involve extremely coercive and disruptive practices”.
“We simply have to do more to protect these children who have very little say or understanding of what is really happening. Most are left without a voice and without a choice.”
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The researcher pointed to one particular instance, in which children were advertising an underwear brand on social media.
She said: “The kids in the company’s own marketing material or their own media campaigns are either pulling up the band of the underwear underneath their clothing, or they’re holding the underwear up while they’re fully clothed.
“But whenever you look at any of the sponsored content produced by families with children – mum, dad, and child are in their underwear.”
Dr Rees said it is “night and day” in terms of how companies are behaving when they have responsibility for the material, versus “the lack of responsibility once they hand it over to parents with kids”.
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