Sir David Amess recently wrote attacks on MPs ‘could happen to any of us’
Murdered MP Sir David Amess had recently written about the risk of attacks on parliamentarians, admitting “it could happen to any of us”.
His book, Ayes & Ears: A Survivor’s Guide to Westminster, was published in November and was nominated for the Parliamentary Book Awards.
The fatal stabbing of Sir David on Friday afternoon during a surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea has been declared by police a terrorist incident.
Forensic police were investigating the scene at the church
In the book, the member of parliament for Southend West wrote about the terror-related murder of Labour MP Jo Cox and how she had been attacked “in the most barbaric fashion imaginable”.
He said attacks such as that on Ms Cox had “spoilt the great British tradition” of the voters meeting politicians.
Since Sir David’s killing, Home Secretary Priti Patel has asked all police forces to immediately review security arrangements for MPs.
Another attack he mentioned was that on his colleague Nigel Jones, in 2000, in which Mr Jones’ aide Andy Pennington died trying to protect him.
While writing he had been on the receiving end of “nuisance from the odd member of the general public”, he admitted most MPs had changed the way they mixed with voters, and that Commons authorities took the threats to members very seriously.
Sir David wrote that MPs were issued with advice on safety for themselves and their families.
On the attack on Mr Jones, Sir David said: “We all make ourselves readily available to our constituents and are often dealing with members of the public who have mental health problems, it could happen to any of us.”
About security, he wrote: “We regularly check our locks and many others have CCTV cameras installed but probably the most significant change has been with constituency surgeries.
“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.
Sir David during a parliamentary session in 2020. Pic: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor via Reuters
“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.”
Sir David also said he was frequently abused online, and how easy it was for “ignorant cowards” to remain anonymous.
He said: “The law in this regard needs to be changed and updated as a matter of urgency.”
He was seen at a number of book signings in the last year promoting the work, the royalties of which went to a number of his favourite causes.
The book was also promoted by his local library service when it became available.
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Sir Keir Starmer has said the next election will be an “open fight” between Labour and Reform UK.
The prime minister, speaking at a conference alongside the leaders of Canada, Australia and Iceland, said the UK is “at a crossroads”.
“There’s a battle for the soul of this country, now, as to what sort of country do we want to be?” he said.
“Because that toxic divide, that decline with Reform, it’s built on a sense of grievance.”
It is the first time Sir Keir has explicitly said the next election would be a straight fight between his party and Reform – and comes the day before the Labour conference begins.
Just hours before, after Sky News revealed Nigel Farage is on course to replace him, as a seat-by-seat YouGov poll found an election held tomorrow would result in a hung parliament, with Reform winning 311 seats – just 15 short of the 326 needed to win overall.
Once the Speaker, whose seat is unopposed, and Sinn Fein MPs, who do not sit in parliament, are accounted for, no other party would be able to secure more MPs, so Reform would lead the government.
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YouGov: Farage set to be next PM
Sir Keir said there is a “right-wing proposition” the UK has not had before, as it has been decades of either a Labour or Tory government, “pitched usually pretty much on the centrepiece of politics, the centre ground of politics”.
The PM said Reform and its leader, Mr Farage, provide a “very different proposition” of “patriotic national renewal” under Labour and a “toxic divide”.
He described his Labour government of being “capable of expressing who and what we are as a country accurately and in a way where people feel they’re valued and they belong, and that we can actually move forward together”.
Sir Keir referenced a march down Whitehall two weeks ago, organised by Tommy Robinson, as having “sent shivers through the spines of many communities well away from London”.
Elon Musk appeared via videolink at the rally and said “violence is coming to you”, prompting accusations of inciting violence.
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The PM said Reform presents a ‘toxic divide
The prime minister said the choice for voters at the next election, set to be in 2029, “is not going to be the traditional Labour versus Conservative”.
“It’s why I’ve said the Conservative Party is dead,” he added.
“Centre-right parties in many European countries have withered on the vine and the same is happening in this country.”
Reacting to Sir Keir’s comments, a Reform UK spokesman said: “For decades, the British people have been betrayed by both Labour and the Conservatives.
“People have voted election after election for lower taxes and controlled immigration, instead, both parties have done the opposite.
“The public are now waking up to the fact Starmer is just continuing the Tory legacy of high taxes and mass immigration.”
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