Sir David Amess: Shocked politicians say MPs ‘should be able to do their job without fear’
Tragic roll call of MPs attacked in office: Davis Amess becomes ninth MP to be attacked in office in last four decades as shocked politicians say they ‘should be able to work without fear’
Conservative MP Sir David Amess was killed during constituency surgery todayMPs from across Parliament paid tribute to Sir David after the shocking attackOthers also called for more security for MPs following today’s shocking murder
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
(function (src, d, tag){
var s = d.createElement(tag), prev = d.getElementsByTagName(tag)[0];
s.src = src;
prev.parentNode.insertBefore(s, prev);
}(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/1.17.0/async_bundle–.js”, document, “script”));
<!–
DM.loadCSS(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/gunther-2159/video_bundle–.css”);
<!–
MPs from across the political spectrum have revealed their shock and paid tribute to veteran politician Sir David Amess, who was stabbed to death at a constituency surgery this afternoon.
The Tory MP for Southend West, 69, was holding a surgery at the Belfairs Methodist Church, in Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea on Friday when his attacker charged into the building wielding a knife and attacked the veteran politician.
Paramedics desperately worked to save him on the floor of the Essex church for more than an hour, but he died after suffering ‘multiple stab wounds’ in the appalling attack with chilling similarities to the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in June 2016.
MPs from across Parliament paid tribute to Sir David after hearing the horrifying news.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: ‘Devastated to learn of Sir David Amess’ murder. A great man, a great friend, and a great MP killed while fulfilling his democratic role.
‘My heart goes out to Julia, his family, and all who loved him. Let us remember him and what he did with his life.’
Secretary of State for Transport Grant Shapps described Sir David Amess as ‘a true parliamentarian’.
He tweeted: ‘Awful, tragic news about David. A dedicated, thoughtful man and a true Parliamentarian, who lost his life while serving the constituents who he worked relentlessly for throughout his career.
‘My thoughts are with his family and friends at this time.’
Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted: ‘Elected representatives from across the political spectrum will be united in sadness and shock today.
‘In a democracy, politicians must be accessible and open to scrutiny, but no-one deserves to have their life taken while working for and representing their constituents.’
Carrie Johnson, the Prime Minister’s wife, tweeted: ‘Absolutely devastating news about Sir David Amess.
‘He was hugely kind and good. An enormous animal lover and a true gent. This is so completely unjust. Thoughts are with his wife and their children.’
The MP for Southend West, 69 (pictured outside his surgery earlier this month), was stabbed ‘multiple times’ by a man as he spoke to constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea
Several also called for greater security for politicians after the attack, which follows the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016.
Before his death was confirmed, Labour MP Rosie Duffield tweeted: ‘Praying for another MP just carrying out his job as he should be able to do safely and peacefully and without fear. David has always been so very kind to me (despite our obvious political differences). Hoping for positive news soon.’
Conservative MP and former party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said he is ‘very worried’ to have heard Sir David Amess was stabbed ‘a number of times, not just once’.
He told the BBC News channel prior to Sir David’s death: ‘Obviously at the moment right now all I can think of are prayers for him and his family, him for a safe recovery, and them for the most terrible emotions they must be going through.
‘The reality for us is that we see constituents all the time, both in their houses and in surgeries.
‘We’re out and about, we’re always available, we must be available, it’s the most critical bit of what makes the British parliamentary system I think one of the most accessible in the world, and that’s because we want it that way.
‘We don’t want to be cowed or frightened into doing something different, and I certainly won’t, and I know my colleagues will feel the same.
‘So I hope this is resolved very, very quickly, as I say, but we will certainly want to continue the way that we do things.
‘Of course there may be some other elements that may be added to it, but notwithstanding that I want my constituents to have full access and I’m sure David would have felt the same.’
He later added that social media gives people with ‘genuine problems over anger or issues’ an ‘echo chamber and often makes it worse’.
He said this has been seen in threats made to MPs, female MPs and women in general, adding that the commentary is ‘often very violent, very angry’.
Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered MP Jo, said: ‘Attacking our elected representatives is an attack on democracy itself. There is no excuse, no justification. It is as cowardly as it gets.’
Commons deputy speaker Dame Eleanor Laing tweeted: ‘All elected representatives must be able to go about their work without the fear of physical or verbal attacks.
‘What has happened to Sir David Amess in Essex today is unforgivable. Praying for you, my friend.’
East Ham MP Stephen Timms, who was stabbed at a constituency surgery in 2010, wrote on Twitter: ‘Appalled to hear of the attack on @amessd-southend today. I know him well and am thinking of him with very best wishes as we await further news.’
Former prime minister David Cameron tweeted: ‘Very alarming and worrying news reports coming from Leigh-on-Sea. My thoughts and prayers are with Sir David Amess and his family.’
