Shabana Mahmood: “But this system only survives if the public trusts that it is fair, controlled, and not open to abuse.”

I can therefore announce today that I will expand, with immediate effect, police support to political figures who are not currently members of parliament.

Robust debate and criticism are part of this job - threats, abuse and violence are not.

An attack on any individual in public life is an attack on every one of us, and it is an attack on democracy itself.

We can defeat those who mean us harm, but we are strongest when we act together.