Items returned to IPSA following a member losing office during & since the general election of 2019

I can confirm that we hold some information relevant to your request, but it is subject to a Refusal Notice under section 38 of the FOIA.

Section 38(1)(b) – health and safety

This exemption applies where disclosure of information would, or would be likely to endanger the safety of any individual.

IPSA relies on this exemption because we believe that the disclosure of this information carries a high risk of endangering the former MPs and their former staff.

IPSA understands how disclosure would enable the public to understand more about what happens when an MP loses their seat. Even though the former MPs and their former staff are no longer carrying out parliamentary duties, they will still be in the public eye and IPSA maintains that our duty of care persists for some time after the former MPs’ offices have been wound-up.

In the first six months of 2021, there was an increase in media reporting on the threats made to MPs and their staff. Not all reports relate to physical attacks on MPs and their staff, but the fear which can be felt from receiving a threat can be mentally and physically damaging. The recent death of Sir David Amess MP has highlighted the impact when the threat of physical attack becomes a reality. Even though they cease to be MPs the threat remains and therefore IPSA maintains that the public interest in withholding this information outweighs the public interest in disclosure at this time.