By Bevan Shields
London: The brutal murder of a British MP has sent shockwaves through the nation’s political establishment, drawing international condemnation and triggering a fresh review into whether politicians need better security.
Sir David Amess was stabbed to death on Friday (Saturday, AEDT) in a frenzied attack east of London.
The Conservative Party MP was meeting constituents inside a church in Leigh-on-Sea in Essex when a knife-wielding man walked in and stabbed the veteran politician multiple times.
The incident has shocked Britain and prompted a fresh round of soul-searching over whether backbenchers can continue to meet members of the public without protection. It is the second murder of an MP in five years in Britain.
Conservative MP David Amess with his pugs, Lily and Boat.Credit: PA
Terrified bystanders – including the MP’s staff – worked to save the 69-year-old but he died on the floor of the church.
Essex Police arrested a 25-year-old man at the scene. Police said that the death of Amess has been declared a terrorist incident, with the investigation being led by its Terrorism Command.
Police at the scene near the Belfairs Methodist Church.Credit: PA
“The early investigation has revealed a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism,” police said in a statement.
“We are not seeking anyone else in connection with the incident at this time.”
Police were carrying out searches at two London addresses. They have also asked for permission to access Amess’ parliamentary case work to see if anything could be linked to the attack.
Media reported the attacker is a British national possibly of Somali heritage.
Amess, the slain father-of-five, is the second MP to be assassinated in Britain in five years. Labour rising star Jo Cox was stabbed and shot on her way to a similar constituency surgery during the final days of the 2016 Brexit referendum campaign. Labour MP Stephen Timms was also stabbed in 2010 but survived.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson led tributes to Amess, who had served in Parliament for nearly four decades.
“All our hearts are full of shock and sadness today,” Johnson said. “The reason why people are so saddened is that he was one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics.
Flags above Downing Street are lowered to half-mast to honour Amess.Credit: PA
“David was a man who believed passionately in this country and its future. We’ve lost today a fine public servant and a much-loved friend and colleague.”
Flags were lowered to half-mast at 10 Downing Street.
Johnson’s predecessor, Theresa May, called it a tragic day for democracy, while the Speaker of the House of Commons foreshadowed a new debate over the level of protection given to MPs.
The ramifications of the death echoed beyond Britain with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeting that “an attack on elected officials is an attack on democracy”.
Stunned British MPs paid tribute to Amess as a decent and dedicated local representative with deep links to the community.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the incident was “dark and shocking”.
Police officers and forensic examiners at the scene of the attack. Credit:
“The whole country will feel it acutely, perhaps more so because we have, heartbreakingly, been here before,” he said. “We will show once more that violence, intimidation and threats to our democracy will never prevail over the tireless commitment of public servants simply doing their jobs.”
Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, said the attack on Amess “brings everything back”.
“The pain, the loss, but also how much love the public gave us following the loss of Jo. I hope we can do the same for David now,” he said.
In a book Amess wrote last year, the MP wrote about the impact of Cox’s murder on British politics and the safety of politicians.
“She was a young woman with a family going about her duties as we all do, completely unaware of the threat she faced. While it is often said that good can come out of someone’s death, it is difficult to see what good can come from this senseless murder,” the politician wrote.
Amess continued that he had experienced “nuisance” from some members of the public at his own home.
“We regularly check our locks and many others have CCTV cameras installed but probably the most significant change has been with constituency surgeries,” he wrote.
“The British tradition has always been that members of Parliament regularly make themselves available for constituents to meet them face-to-face at their surgeries. Now advice has been given to be more careful when accepting appointments.
“We are advised to never see people alone, we must be extra careful when opening post and we must ensure that our offices are properly safe and secure. In short, these increasing attacks have rather spoilt the great British tradition of the people openly meeting their elected politicians.”
Conservative MP Sir David Amess, second from left, in his constituency. Credit:
Home Secretary Priti Patel on Friday said questions were “rightly being asked” about the safety of MPs.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said the health of Britain’s democracy relied on elected representatives being able to live and work without fear of violence or intimidation.
Australian businessman Jason Groves, who served on the board of a charity which Amess chaired, said the MP was “one of most dedicated and nicest MPs I’ve ever known”.
“Why anyone would do something so utterly evil is beyond me.”
Flowers are laid near the Belfairs Methodist Church where British MP David Amess was killed. Credit:
A staunch Brexit supporter, Amess was known for championing animal rights and maintained a long-running campaign to upgrade the town of Southend to city status.
“He had an outstanding record of passing laws to help the most vulnerable, passing laws to end cruelty to animals and doing a huge amount of work to reduce poverty up and down the country,” Johnson said.
Former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said Amess “never went into politics as a career”.
“What we do is a vocation. If you want a career, go be a banker,” Duncan Smith told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. “In politics you might never make government, so if you think it’s a career you’ll be disappointed.
“But if you come in to debate, agitate, make change and look after your constituents you’ll find life very satisfying and David found political life very satisfying because he was always trying to look after his constituency.”
Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale, who entered Parliament with Amess in 1983, held back tears as he paid tribute to his friend.
“He was funny, he was fun. He was dedicated and determined but unlike some of us who maybe take things too seriously sometimes, David was never too serious. But always serious at the right time, and that was probably why he was such an effective member of Parliament.
“He was like a terrier. If he got his teeth into an issue on behalf of a constituent he wouldn’t let go and that’s how it should be.
“He died terribly, terribly sadly doing what he did best: helping people.”
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