Grief is swirling through the streets as town remembers and mourns the loss of its MP
Saturday in Southend is quiet, and lacking in the usual buzz of a seaside town on a weekend.
Local MP, Sir David Amess, has been murdered and everyone is talking about it. People here seem to be seeking solace, or someone to share their grief, or better still someone to tell them this nightmare isn’t true.
Sky News surrounded itself with some of the people who knew Sir David best – the charities he supported and with the locals who credit the late MP with changing their lives for the better.
Live updates following the death of Conservative MP Sir David Amess
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Sir David’s fight for animal rights
Sir David was the president of The Music Man Project, founded in Southend by David Stanley.
They had been close friends for 25 years and share a deep passion for helping children and adults with learning disabilities be creative through music.
“His big personality was what marked him out,” Mr Stanley tells Sky News.
“He would light up every room and he would come into the concert or a fundraising event for my charity, and immediately he would be spreading the word about how great the music is and what wonderful achievements people with learning disabilities can do through music.
“I’d often pass him a microphone for a speech at the end of a concert but he’d brush it aside and say ‘I don’t need that microphone!’ and he didn’t, he just bellowed enthusiasm and genuine passion.”
In 2019, Sir David helped a group of 200 students from the charity perform at the Royal Albert Hall and again at the London Palladium.
Sir David Amess on the stage with The Music Man project. Pic: The Music Man Project
Sir David at the London Palladium in 2015. Pic: The Music Man Project
“David’s effect on students was enormous. He had this passion for what we were doing. He told the students that they could go to the Albert Hall and that we can all go to Broadway and do a concert tour of New York, which is our next dream.
“But when Sir David said it, they believed it, because it’s Sir David Amess, a knight of the realm, he’s an MP, he has great connections, he can open doors and he can get people to support us.
“So our families and musicians believed every word he said and everything he told them did come true, he was true to his word.
Proceeds from the sales of Sir David’s book Ayes and Ears, published in 2020, all went to three charities close to his heart, of which The Music Man Project was one.
David Stanley on stage with the The Music Man Project. Pic: Music Man Project
Sir David was passionate about animal welfare charities too, serving as patron of the local RSPCA branch and supporting the local stables that run riding for the Disabled Association programmes.
The Belfairs Riding School is a short walk from the scene of Friday’s tragedy and was a place regularly visited by Sir David, and Fiona Smith from the stables fondly remembers his cheeky humour.
“He was a nightmare, absolute nightmare, he would just want to get in and meet the horses that you didn’t want him to be in with, he would just go and tap them on the backside, he was all over the place and absolute nightmare in the best way. But we loved him.
“He was always enthusiastic, always smiling, always energetic and whatever you asked him for he would try and oblige.
“I don’t remember a time where I ever saw him, that he wasn’t energetic and enthusiastic. There was integrity to what he did, he was passionate about animals, and he believed in animal rights.”
Fiona Smith from Belfairs Riding School in Southend
David Bowles from the RSPCA had been chatting to Sir David at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester a couple of weeks ago and having known him for almost 20 years, Mr Bowles understood the MP’s fierce love of animals.
“David was really passionate about two things. One was Essex itself, the other was animal welfare.
“Sometimes those combined – as he was president of the local RSPCA in Southend, he worked a lot with animal welfare in the area, but also did an awful lot in Parliament.
“One of his greatest achievements that he felt he did was passing a private member’s bill back in 1988 which improved tethering of horses, which he saw day to day in the Essex area.
Improving the lives of local people is also highlighted by business owners on Southend high street.
Joseph and Nicolas Strauss on Southend high street
Joseph Strauss remembers a cause Sir David fought on their behalf for, when it felt like no one else would listen.
“Southend Council wanted to turn the road outside our shop into bus lanes and there’s hundreds of us and he fought for us.
“Otherwise all these shops up here, employing hundreds of people, would have been closed, and he even mentioned it in parliament.
Joseph’s son Nicholas also met Sir David a couple of times as their children were of similar ages.
“I met him on a personal basis, because his youngest daughter used to play football with my oldest daughter, we used to see him every so often watching his daughter play football.
“We knew him as such a charming man and decent man, no airs or graces, just a lovely man.”
There’s a sense of deep shock and sadness in Southend. The grief is swirling through the streets as the town remembers and mourns the loss of their MP – who was simply proud of doing his job.
Criminals who refuse to attend their sentencing hearings will face further punishment under a new law.
The government is introducing the Victims and Courts Bill to parliament today, which will include more jail time or loss of privileges in prison in England and Wales for criminals who refuse to attend court for sentencing.
Several high-profile offenders have refused to face victims’ families, sparking a public outcry and calls for a change in the law.
Thomas Cashman, who murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel in her home in Liverpool, refused to attend his sentencing hearing in 2023. Pic: PA
The families of murdered primary school teacher Sabina Nessa, law graduate Zara Aleena and mother-of-three Mary Jane Mustafa – also known as Mihrican “Jan” Mustafa – have all campaigned for the change after their killers were absent from sentencing hearings.
Ms Nessa’s sister, Jebina Islam, Ms Aleena’s aunt, Farah Naz, and Ms Mustafa’s cousin, Ayse Hussein, said: “This move holds offenders to account.
“It sends a clear and necessary message: the justice system is not something you should be able to opt out of.
“It is not about punishment through force – but about ensuring that perpetrators cannot remove themselves from the consequences of their actions.”
They said the legislation is a “step in the right direction” and the proposed punishments indicate it is “being taken seriously”.
The trio added: “This change supports victims and society alike. It shows justice being done.
“It gives families a moment of recognition and a form of reparation. It is a moment of reckoning for the convicted.”
Under the new legislation, judges will be able to sentence offenders for up to two more years in prison for avoiding justice.
Those already facing lengthy imprisonment or whole life orders could have a range of prison punishments, such as confinement to their cells and being stripped of privileges, such as extra gym time.
Read more from Sky News:
Teenagers to be allowed to drive trains
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Olivia Pratt-Korbel was killed by Thomas Cashman
Former Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak had pledged to change the law after meeting the mother of murdered nine-year-old Olivia Pratt-Korbel, and Sir Keir Starmer promised to enact it.
Thomas Cashman, the gunman who killed Olivia as he chased a drug dealer who had run into her Liverpool home, did not appear in court to hear his life sentence in April 2023.
Earlier this year, triple crossbow and knife killer Kyle Clifford refused to attend his sentencing when he received a whole life order.
Southport child murderer Axel Rudakubana was removed from his sentencing hearing for repeatedly shouting in January.
Justice minister Alex Davies-Jones said: “I would like to thank the remarkable families of Olivia Pratt-Korbel, Jan Mustafa, Sabina Nessa and Zara Aleena and countless others who have campaigned tirelessly for offenders to have to face the reality of their crimes by attending their sentencing.
“Justice isn’t optional – we’ll make sure criminals face their victims.”
The bill also says it will restrict parental responsibility from child sex offenders who commit serious crimes against their own children.
The powers of the Victims’ Commissioner will also be strengthened to require them to produce an independent report on whether agencies are meeting their statutory duty over the Victim’s Code to hold the government to account.
Child protection charity the NSPCC backed the move, saying they hope it will improve how young victims and survivors are treated, but said it was “not a complete solution”.
US Democrat lawmakers have launched a multi-angle attack on President Donald Trump’s crypto ventures with two bills and a subcommittee inquiry aimed at cutting his ability to profit from the initiatives.
The Modern Emoluments and Malfeasance Enforcement Act, or the MEME Act, aims to prevent federal officials from using their position to profit from memecoins, Democrat Senator Chris Murphy said in a May 6 statement.
If passed, the MEME Act prohibits the president, vice president, members of Congress, senior executive branch officials, their spouses and children from issuing, sponsoring, or promoting a security, future, commodity, or digital asset, according to the bill’s description.
Today I’m introducing a bill – the MEME Act – to ban a President or Member of Congress from issuing a meme coin.
The Trump Coin is the biggest corruption scandal in the history of the White House. @RepLiccardo and I are determined to put an end to this corruption – for good. pic.twitter.com/nQL9ZfIYYV
— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) May 6, 2025
Violators could face civil penalties of up to $250,000 and be required to fork over any profits to the US Treasury. Criminal penalties could also apply, including fines and up to five years behind bars.
US Representative Sam Liccardo, another Democrat, introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. However, Trump’s party, the Republicans, controls both chambers, and the legislation will need Republican support.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, a ranking member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), said in a May 6 statement that the committee is opening a preliminary inquiry into the Official Trump (TRUMP) token, Trump-backed platform World Liberty Financial (WLFI), and other associated business ventures.
As part of the inquiry, the PSI sent letters to the company behind the Trump coin, Fight Fight Fight, and WLFI, asking for records and communications between the companies and the Trump organization.
With his cryptocurrency schemes, Trump is putting a for sale sign in front of the White House. That’s why, as Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, I’m launching an inquiry into this brazen corruption whose scope & scale is staggering. pic.twitter.com/3SiaCrthN8
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) May 6, 2025
At the same time, Blumenthal says the subcommittee is asking for answers about what steps the firms have taken to address possible conflicts of interest.
Main points of interest flagged by the PSI include fees the president is making on the TRUMP token and the nearly 50% spike in value from $9.40 to $13.65 after the TRUMP coin website announced on April 23 that the top 220 holders of the token would be invited to a gala dinner at the White House.
Soon after launch on Jan. 18, the Trump coin hit its all-time high of $73.43, according to CoinGecko. However, it has since lost 85% of its value and is trading for $11.13.
More than half of TRUMP holders in profit
Roughly two million wallets have bought TRUMP, with an extra 54,000 adding the token to their stash after the dinner announcement, according to data shared with Cointelegraph from blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis.
Around 764,000 of these, most with small holdings, lost money on the coin, while the 58 investors in the token have made profits of over $10 million each, totaling an estimated $1.1 billion.
At the same time, Chainalysis says the memecoin creator has made $320 million so far, with an extra $1.3 million coming in since the White House dinner announcement.
Related: Dem lawmakers object to hearing, citing ‘Trump’s crypto corruption’
Meanwhile, a trucking logistics firm announced plans on April 30 to build a TRUMP coin treasury through a $20 million convertible note issuance.
Javier Selgas, CEO of Freight Technologies, said the tokens are an “excellent way to diversify our crypto treasury and also an effective way to advocate for fair, balanced, and free trade between Mexico and the US.”
The firm also acquired $5.2 million of the Fetch.ai network’s utility token FET on April 1.
Magazine: Mystery celeb memecoin scam factory, HK firm dumps Bitcoin: Asia Express
South Korea’s Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung has reportedly become the latest presidential candidate to promise the approval of spot crypto exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and other crypto-friendly measures, should he be elected.
Lee announced his crypto promises on May 6 as part of a broader initiative to provide more investment opportunities for Korea’s youth, one of the main target demographics for the fast-approaching June 3 election.
“I will create a safe investment environment so that young people can [build] assets and plan for the future,” The Korea Economic Daily (KED) quoted Lee as saying in Korean.
He also promised the legalization of spot crypto ETFs, lower transaction fees, and more consumer protection measures.
Lee’s Democratic Party of Korea is the favorite to win the presidential election with 42% support, according to a survey conducted by Korea’s National Barometer Survey between April 24 and 30. Korea’s acting president, Han Duck-soo, came in second at 13%.
This is the first time Lee has mentioned crypto as part of his presidential campaign, KED noted.
The Democratic Party made similar promises in its 2024 general election campaign, including passing spot crypto ETF legalization. However, progress stalled, KED said.
South Korea’s People Power Party makes similar promises
South Korea’s ruling party, the People Power Party, also reportedly made crypto policy promises in late April, which included allowing spot crypto ETFs, dismantling Korea’s controversial one-exchange-one-bank rule, and establishing a regulatory framework for stablecoins.
The one-exchange-one-bank rule in South Korea is a regulation that limits each crypto exchange to working with only one local bank. It is intended to prevent money laundering and strengthen transparency by ensuring that the identities of crypto investors can be verified when trading crypto.
South Korean industry officials estimate that 16 million or 31% of the country’s 51.7 million people have access to a crypto account.
Related: North Korean spy slips up, reveals ties in fake job interview
Kim Moon-soo is running as the People Power Party’s candidate — a party previously led by Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached after he declared martial law in December.
The controversial measure triggered a considerable fall in Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and other cryptocurrencies. However, most coins recovered when the martial law was lifted around six hours later.
Korea’s Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of Yoon in a unanimous 8–0 decision decision on April 4, effectively removing him from office.
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