Scotland’s Deputy First Minister has said she is “very aware” of security, with Jenny Gilruth adding that women in politics can “experience challenges that others might not”.
While she stressed she could not comment on the death of former Tory minister Ann Widdecombe – who later joined Reform UK – Ms Gilruth said that politicians were often “on the front line”.
Her comments came after it emerged that counter-terrorism police are now leading the investigation into the death of the veteran politician.
The 78-year-old, who had served as both an MP and an MEP, was found dead at her home in Haytor on Dartmoor at about 11.40am on Thursday after sustaining serious injuries.
Veteran politician Ann Widdecombe was discovered dead at her home last week. (Ben Birchall/PA)A 28-year-old white British man who was arrested on suspicion of her murder on Saturday has since been re-arrested on suspicion of the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism.
Ms Gilruth stressed: “I’m not going to comment on the ongoing case in relation to Ann Widdecombe, because of course it is a live investigation at the current time.”
But she said that security guidance for MSPs had been updated in the wake of the killings of MPs Sir David Amess and Jo Cox.
Speaking to journalists during a visit in Glasgow, Ms Gilruth added: “We all have a level of security provision as MSPs in our own personal addresses and also in our own local offices, but I know across the piece it is something we all take really seriously working in frontline elected politics.
“You’re on the front line, folk know who you are, they might have opinions about you and so your security is naturally part of your job and it is important that you are protected in that regard.”
She added that social media makes politicians “much more accessible” than previously, adding as a result “people are regularly able to comment on things you might have said, things you might have done and they will do that on a regular and routine basis”.
The Deputy First Minister said: “I think security is something I think about, perhaps not on a daily basis, but it is something I am very aware of, particularly as a woman, and I think women in politics in particular experience challenges that others might not.”
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Ms Gilruth stressed the the need to be “be mindful” of this, adding: “If we want more women to come into politics, we don’t want them to be put off because of the security challenges around being elected.”