A man has been arrested over an alleged threat to shoot Reform UK leader Nigel Farage made in a social media post.

The arrest relates to a post made on X which was reported to police on 8 May, a day after the local and mayoral elections.

The Met Police said a man in his 20s was arrested in south London on Tuesday this week on suspicion of sending threatening communications to a Member of Parliament.

He has been bailed pending further inquiries.

The arrest came six days after Reform spokesperson Ann Widdecombe was killed at her Devon home. Counter terror police are investigating the death.

The Parliamentary Liaison and Investigation Team informed Farage of the arrest on Wednesday.

Farage said: “This is the first time the police have ever proactively acted on a social media post, and I hope they are looking at the other three or four hundred similar posts from this year alone.”

The arrest was first reported in the Daily Telegraph newspaper,, external which said the social media post warned Farage: “I am going to shoot you in the head if you win”.

Police told Farage it could take several weeks to examine digital devices they had seized.

Earlier on Wednesday Reform UK’s home affairs spokesperson said if the party was in government it would provide “round-the-clock protection” for all MPs.

Announcing the proposed policy at a press conference, Zia Yusuf also said Farage “lives his life under the ever-present threat of mortal danger” and those who “question his need for security should stop”.