Politicians could be protected by taxpayer-funded security guards in their constituencies in the wake of a Right-wing extremist plot to kill a Labour MP.

Under the new plans, extra money would be provided to pay for guards at MPs’ constituency surgeries if required.

The proposals came to light 24 just hours after white supremacist Jack Renshaw was jailed for life for plotting to hack to death Labour MP Rosie Cooper.

Jack Renshaw, pictured, was jailed for life over his plot to murder Labour MP Rosie Cooper

Renshaw, pictured here with Nick Griffin, left, was a member of the banned right-wing terror group National Action

A whistleblower foiled the plot to murder Ms Cooper, pictured

They also come ahead of a debate this week at Westminster over the rising tide of abuse suffered by MPs and their staff.

On Friday night, vandals daubed the word ‘traitor’ across the constituency office in South Wales of pro-EU Labour MP Chris Bryant.

Renshaw, 23, who made a Nazi salute as he was sentenced last week, had planned to hack Miss Cooper to death in an apparent bid to emulate the murder of popular Labour MP Jo Cox.

He had bought a 19in ‘Gladius Machete’ replica Roman sword and told comrades at the banned Right-wing group National Action that he would carry out a ‘white jihad’ attack on the MP.

The plot was scuppered by an undercover whistleblower, who was at a meeting in a pub where the plot was discussed in July 2017 – just a year after the murder of Jo Cox by another Right-wing extremist.

Now well-placed Commons sources have revealed that plans have been drawn up to allow MPs to call in security guards in their constituencies if needed.

The proposals, which have yet to be approved, would involve providing extra public cash to fund the protection. But the money would not be paid through MPs’ allowances. A source said: ‘It would allow a particular MP to get in extra security for his or her constituency surgery if it was considered necessary.’

The debate at Westminster comes after police warned that reports of threats and abuse against MPs and staff had reached ‘unprecedented’ levels.

But last night MPs voiced concern about the security-guard plan. Simon Hart, the Tory MP for Carmarthen West who will lead the Westminster debate, claimed that equipping MPs with security guards would send the wrong message to constituents.

He said: ‘Obviously, we have to protect staff and MPs. But people already talk about not having access to their MP. If they have to get past two bouncers to do so, it’s the wrong message.’

But Mr Hart urged the Government to fulfil its promise to bring in a new offence of intimidating a candidate or campaigner during the run-up to an election, either in person or online.