Shabana Mahmood: “I urge everyone to avoid speculation and allow the police investigation to progress.”

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 owe it to them and to everyone who believes in a fair and open country to ensure that those who serve at all levels receive the protection they deserve.

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

In a more dangerous world, we are faced by threats from without and within that target our democracy and our way of life.