Decision not to charge former Reform UK MP
Malcolm McHaffie, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Special Crime Division, said:
“Following a thorough and detailed review of the evidence in relation to an allegation of threats, we have decided that no criminal charges should be brought against a sitting MP.
"Having considered a number of witness statements, we have concluded that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction.
“The Crown Prosecution Service's function is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent, and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges for a criminal court to consider. Based on the careful consideration of this evidence, we have decided that our legal test for a criminal prosecution has not been met.”
The decision is also subject to the Victim’s Right to Review (VRR) scheme which provides a victim or their families in some classes of case with a specifically designed process to exercise the right to review certain CPS decisions not to start a prosecution or to stop a prosecution.
Notes to editors
- This case relates to an incident at the Palace of Westminster in December 2024.
- We received a full file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police Service on 9 April 2025 in relation to an allegation of a threat.
- This decision has been made in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors.
- When deciding whether to prosecute a criminal case, our lawyers must follow the Code for Crown Prosecutors. This means that to charge someone with a criminal offence, prosecutors must be satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction, and that prosecuting is in the public interest.
- The legal test in this case was not met on evidential grounds.
- The CPS Special Crime Division deals with the most complex and sensitive cases in England and Wales including disasters, serious criminal allegations against police officers, corporate manslaughter and election offences.
- This decision is subject to our Victims' Right to Review Scheme (VRR) where another lawyer can be asked to look at the case again.
- The VRR scheme provides a victim with a specifically designed process to exercise the right to review certain CPS decisions not to start a prosecution or to stop a prosecution.
The right to request a review of a decision not to prosecute under the VRR scheme applies to decisions that have the effect of being final made by every Crown Prosecutor, regardless of their grade or position in the organisation. - It is important to note that the “right” referred to in the context of the VRR scheme is the right to request a review of a final decision. It is not a guarantee that proceedings will be instituted or reinstituted.
- Following a review under the scheme, qualifying decisions not to charge, to discontinue, and to withdraw can be instituted or reinstituted, subject to any statutory time limits. There are two possible review outcomes:
- A New decision: when the earlier decision is overturned.
- Uphold previous decision: the original decision not to prosecute is upheld, and the victim notified and provided with an explanation.