A man in his twenties was arrested in London on Tuesday on suspicion of sending threatening communications to Nigel Farage, the former Member of Parliament and current leader of Reform UK. The arrest followed a social media post made in May, shortly after local elections, in which the suspect allegedly wrote, “I am going to shoot you in the head if you win.” The post was reported to police on May 8, and the arrest came six days after the murder of Ann Widdecombe, Reform UK’s immigration and justice spokeswoman, who was found dead at her home in Devon.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest, stating detectives had obtained user information from the social media platform before detaining the suspect at a residential address in south London. He was interviewed and later released on bail pending further inquiries, which include examination of electronic devices.

Farage, who resigned his parliamentary seat last week but was serving as an MP when the alleged threat was made, welcomed the arrest as a sign that police might now be taking online threats more seriously. He said in an interview that this was the first time authorities had acted proactively on a social media threat against him despite numerous previous reports. Farage accused the police of previously dismissing similar posts as below the threshold for action, despite some including violent imagery. He also cited offensive comments made by public figures that had gone unaddressed.

The arrest surfaced amid ongoing concerns about the safety of politicians following Widdecombe’s killing. Counterterrorism police are investigating her death as a targeted attack, with suspects in custody. Reform UK officials have demanded increased security for their MPs, and party spokesman Zia Yusuf called for a substantial increase in the security budget, citing previous attacks on politicians such as Sir David Amess and Jo Cox.

The circumstances of Widdecombe’s death have generated controversy. Farage and some Reform members dispute initial accounts from police and political leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Devon and Cornwall Police chief constable James Vaughan, who characterized the killing as a burglary gone wrong. Farage rejected this, describing the incident as premeditated and expressing frustration at what he described as an inadequate official response.

Yusuf also criticized a perceived hostile political climate, citing comments by politicians, including Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who previously labeled Widdecombe a “bigot.” He suggested that such rhetoric contributes to an environment of incitement against Reform UK. Yusuf acknowledged that political debate can be heated but distinguished his own language from inflammatory remarks that he believed could provoke violence.

The arrest and the circumstances surrounding Widdecombe’s death have intensified calls across the political spectrum for a review of security measures protecting serving and former members of Parliament. Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham described the situation as requiring a “serious review” to ensure the safety of public officials and defend democratic processes.