The almost £10million-a-year security bill for protecting Britain’s eight living former prime ministers is ‘unsustainable’, the Home Office has been warned.
The UK currently has its largest number of former heads of government in history, significantly fuelled by the Conservatives’ tumultuous period which has seen the party go through four PMs in three years.
As many as 120 specialist police protection officers are needed to give the ex-British leaders round-the-clock security, ex-officers have claimed.
The eight living former PMs are Sir John Major, Sir Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Lord Cameron, Baroness May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and most recently Rishi Sunak.
Ms Truss became the shortest-serving PM when she lasted just 49 days in Downing Street in 2022.
The ex-leaders’ security is funded by the Home Office but officers are provided by the Met Police and some local forces, armed with guns and tasers, despite all English and Welsh forces battling with a shortage of firearms-trained officers.
Analysis by The Telegraph, who have spoken to former protection officers and Government insiders, suggests the annual cost of protecting all eight former leaders with 24/7 protection would be £9.36million.
The protection is reportedly made up of a team of 12 to cover eight-hour shifts for round-the-clock protection in addition to a personal protection officer and two back-up officers.
British former Prime Ministers Theresa May, David Cameron, Gordon Brown, Tony Blair and John Major attend the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph on November 10
As many as 120 specialist police protection officers are needed to give the ex-British leaders round-the-clock security, ex-officers have claimed. Pictured: Former PM Sir Tony Blair
One source with knowledge of security said the costs were ‘astronomical’ and that the figure was ‘probably an underestimate’.
They told the Telegraph: ‘I don’t think the current situation with them all having the level of protection that they currently have is sustainable.
‘It’s well known that we have a shortage of officers. I struggle to see how they will maintain that level of protection for that many people in the long term.
‘Politics is inherently unstable at the moment. So, I wouldn’t be surprised if the number of former prime ministers goes up in the next few years.’
A former government minister also told The Telegraph that while it is crucial to protect those who were involved in periods that would put them at risk, such as Northern Ireland, Afghanistan and Iran, others may not need the same level of security.
The security awarded to an individual is assessed on a case-by-case basis by Ravec – the Royal and VIP Executive Committee. They assess the risk of VIPs and royals based on intelligence from security services, police and government.
The biggest risk comes from terrorists groups such as Islamic State, al-Qaeda and the Real IRA, plus hostile states, according to one source.
Therefore, a PM who was involved in making key decisions involving conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Northern Ireland, is likely to need greater security.
For example, Sir Tony, who supported George W Bush in his ‘war on terror’, is likely to need greater protection than Sir John.
The UK currently has its largest number of former heads of government in history, significantly fuelled by the Conservatives ‘ tumultuous period which has seen the party go through four PMs in three years. Liz Truss (pictured) who became the shortest-serving PM
Two officers must be on duty at all times at the former leader’s house if they require round-the-clock protection.
This would mean 12 officers were needed to cover the daily shifts 24/7, taking into account rest days, sleep, training days, annual leave and sick leave.
Personal protection officers and two back-up officers will also travel with VIPs to an event.
Meanwhile, overseas trips or high-profile events may require more officers.
In the past, protection officers used to work extremely long hours, cashing in on huge amounts of overtime, but this was changed in 2010 after it emerged that Sir Tony’s bodguards were claiming expenses of £250,000.
Officers now work 10-12 hour shifts, which is why more are required to spread the load.
The Telegraph, based off Policy Exchange estimates of officer costs, reports that it costs £78,000-a-year or £9.36million a year for the 120 officers.