David was a long-standing friend and colleague. His senseless murder leaves his family devastated, his friends bereft and his constituents without a dedicated MP. He went to great lengths to help his constituents and to represent his area. He was always kind, hard working and willing to engage with people of wide ranging views. He was a great campaigner and a helpful mentor to new MPs.
His tragic death will not stop MPs talking directly to people or being active in their constituencies. There have been too many murders of MPs during recent decades, when MPs strive to ensure the nationās disagreements and passions are settled through votes and arguments, not violence.
October 15, 2021
Hear hear. My condolences to Sir David’s family and friends in their tragic loss.
Surely now there must be a review of MP’s personal security when undertaking constituency surgeries. We live in a multicultural nation and have recently fought long wars against religious extremists. The risks are obvious.
October 16, 2021
Just to recap:
Reading: 3 killed, 3 injured
Streatham stabbing, 1 seriously injured
Whitemoor prison stabbings
London Bridge: 2 killed
London Bridge – 8 killed, 48 injured
Manchester station stabbing, 3 injured
Westminster car attack, 3 injuries
Parsons Green train bombing, 30 injuries
Manchester Arena: 22 killed, 250 injured
Westminster attack- 5 killed, 50 injured
Lee Rigby, Woolwich
MP Stephen Timms stabbed
Glasgow airport attack
London 7/7: 52 killed, 784 injured
1 MP dead, 1 MP injured
almost 100 ordinary citizens killed, over 1000 injured
elsewhere in Europe:
Berlin: 12 killed, 56 injured
Nice: 86 killed, 434 injured
Brussels: 32 killed, 340 injured
France 2015: 148 killed, 435 injured
October 16, 2021
Norway: 5 killed and two injured.
October 15, 2021
I grew up in Leigh-on-Sea and I have heard from people I still know there who confirm how hugely he will be missed as a constituency MP. It is such a tragic irony that he died while serving his constituents. In the saddest possible way, it epitomised the man he was.
October 15, 2021
His death is shocking. My condolences to his family.
October 16, 2021
+1P
October 15, 2021
Perhaps now the police will pay far more attention and effort into combating knife crime crime, instead of all those PC attitudes such as bending the knee to various anti-democracy outfits infecting our world in the UK at this time. Becoming a ‘service’ instead of a ‘force’ was a step too far.
October 15, 2021
Martyn:
I agree. The best tribute/memorial to the person who died, would be to tackle the perpetrators of such an awful crime. Stop making excuses, poverty, ethnicity etc. and make the punishment fit the crime. Vigils and tributes are fine, but they don’t stop this happening, time and time again.
We need to get tough!
October 15, 2021
All you need is a bouncer at the door checking for weapons, same as entry into a nightclub
Reply MPs are not provided with bouncers on our staff nor with screening machinery. We do not wish to put our staff at risk.
.
October 16, 2021
Reply MPs are not provided with bouncers on our staff nor with screening machinery. We do not wish to put our staff at risk.
…
So what draconian overreaction to this is going to be pushed off the back of this?
Bouncers or screening are sensible measures and security guards take risks all the time.
If MPs want to interact more with us they can moderate their own blog, like you.
October 16, 2021
If you put a bouncer on the door a determined individual on a mission will just get to them outside, or outside their home, or when attending a fete, public figures do a dangerous job – we focus on people that die but there are plenty of people that get attacked, everyone thought it was funny when people throw eggs or milkshake or insulting names at public figures that they donāt like or agree with and this is just the end result of that lack of respect and consequences, serious consequences not being there. It is ironic that the very people that are helping migrants and telling the rest of the population there is nothing we can do about it and making accommodations in hotels and giving these people homes in our big cities are the people they attack.
October 16, 2021
Sir David was not one of those, nor were seven of the remaining eight who got murdered.
October 17, 2021
@a-tracy; Yours is a classic example for why people should not make crass speculation, given the public only now (officially) know the identity and family background of the alleged attacker, your comments about migrants and those who help them are completely out of place.
What is more, remember when Prescott got ‘egged’ at close range back in 2001, no doubt much to the amusement of some on the hard right, no immigrant involvement there but that could so easily have been something worse than just an egg. Before that, in 2000, then LD MP Nigel Jones was attacked by someone who was neither a migrant nor had religious motive, in that attack a party worker was killed and Jones seriously wounded.
October 18, 2021
Jerry, you are going completely off on one, as per usual when you respond to me. I never said that all of those attacks were by migrants, read it again. I was as horrified when Prescott got attacked as when anyone else did it is absolutely unacceptable.
My point was that our MPs often work to help migrants and the disadvantaged and it is ironic that people attack people that help them!
Once again do not put words in my mouth it seems to be your favourite pastime.
October 19, 2021
@a-tracy; So why even bring up the issue of migrants the, “…//… It is ironic that the very people that are helping migrants …//….” ?
It’s not me going off on one but you, having been called out, even re reading your comment (having read your ‘explanation’) it still reads as if you were blaming migrants, nor was I the only person who seemed read it that way.
October 15, 2021
I am shocked about the cold blooded murder of David Amess. Utterly terrible.
Having met and spoken to David Amess, I feel the brutality of it all the more.
RIP David Amess MP.
October 15, 2021
Tragic is all I can say. It’s maybe time to think about protection and stop and search before people are let in. His family must be devastated. I see terrorism has been mentioned. I’d be interested to see if this man came into the UK recently and if we knew who he was. How many times must we say we don’t know who these people are that we are letting in?
October 15, 2021
F U S
+1
October 16, 2021
Agreed. The prevalence of knives and machetes, and people willing to use them, is very frightening.
October 16, 2021
FUS: “Tragic is all I can say. Itās maybe time to think about protection ”
Yes, but not on the door of an MPs surgery, at the door of the country.
We should be a lot more discriminating ( Oh bad word ) about the people we allow into the country. I deplore this murder, but it was a result of the negligence of our ruling class.
Further, we should not award citizenship to anyone who turns up. That devalues British citizenship. New arrivals should be given residency for up to ten years, and assuming no criminal record in the UK after this time, they should be able to apply for citizenship.
October 15, 2021
Indeed he was a good man and one of the sounder MPs.
As the police have clearly chosen not issued any statements on the name or background of the man arrested then I assume we just have to come to our own conclusions?
October 15, 2021
“I am so deeply, deeply saddened by the tragic news that Sir David has passed away. ” — Sadiq Khan.
Yes, according to Khan, Sir David Amiss just slipped away peacefully in his sleep.
LifeLogic: “I assume we just have to come to our own conclusions?”
Your conclusions have been etc ed
October 16, 2021
Stop being so silly.
That was a follow-up to the message in which he expressed his shock at the attack and hoped that Sir David would be OK.
Michael Gove said exactly the same thing, which makes perfect sense in that context.
October 15, 2021
Always showing a big smile whilst working tirelessly with a big heart! Amazing man and very sad loss. Condolences to his family and friends.
October 15, 2021
Sir David had been a councillor in my own Borough in his early political life, and would return sometimes to see members of his family and keep in contact with the local Tories. Having met him on a couple of occasions, I can verify he was a very genuine and likeable person, with no airs or graces; I believe his ghastly death will be not only a terrible loss to his family and friends, but also to the HoC as a whole.
October 15, 2021
John, my sincere condolences on the loss of your friend and colleague. He seemed a thoroughly nice man and a hardworking MP.
October 16, 2021
Agree. Our condolences to you Sir John, on the loss of a close colleague and friend.
October 16, 2021
@ a-tracy – a kind, thoughtful comment that I wish to echo.
October 15, 2021
As Sir John says, utterly senseless, was so shocked when i heard the news.
Until more is known there is little else to add, best not to speculate.
October 16, 2021
More is known. Even if not by you, Jerry.
October 16, 2021
@Hat Man; Oh dear, there’s always one… Of course some people know more, but such are people are either witnesses or are privy to the investigate, neither should be allowing such information to become public at this point other 5that via official briefings. Then of course there are people like you Hat Man, those who THINK they know more than anyone else simply because they believe the rumour mill, often exploiting a situation.
October 16, 2021
Indeed and āspeculateā is exactly what you do in the absence of hard information. Nothing wrong with āspeculationā so long as you realise you are speculating from the little information you have. The expression ātoo early to speculateā is moronic. It is never too early to speculate. Too early to be certain perhaps yes.
We know for example (virtually for certain) that Covid was a Wuhan leak after āgain of functionā experiments. This from the largely circumstantial but rather damning evidence. The Governments US/UK surely know this for certain but are pretending not to for some reason.
October 16, 2021
@LL; Nonsense, all such comments do here is add to our hosts work, plus perhaps adding to his own, and others, personal distress at the loss of a long standing friend. Never mind the fact that there are wider legal issue with regards careless speculation and loose talk, that if published might have legal repercussions regarding the investigation and any future court case.
October 16, 2021
You absolutely are not a scientist, are you? – If you ever were.
October 15, 2021
Very shocked to hear this terrible news.
A lovely man and a great MP.
Thank you for your words on this sad occasion Sir John.
Democracy, not those with violent aims must prevail.
October 15, 2021
A tragic loss of a respected, talented, devoted and well loved person and humanitarian. The number of tributes both written & spoken today speak for themselves. I hope that Sir David’s wife & children and wider family, friends and colleagues can take some comfort from those. Just felt sick to the stomach hearing this terrible news and yet again having to witness such abhorrent barbarity. RIP Sir David.
October 15, 2021
The witness testimony is fake
October 15, 2021
Gove said he ‘passed away’.strange phrase to use for a cold blooded murder. he was 69. The news narrative is rediculous.
October 16, 2021
Several prominent people have used that expression including Sadiq Khan.
It was generally in follow-up messages after earlier ones, in which they expressed their shock and horror at this barbarity, and their hopes that Sir David would recover.
It was therefore appropriate in that context.
I send my sincere condolences to all of Sir David’s family, friends and colleagues including Sir John.
October 16, 2021
They are also using the word “tragedy” rather than “outrage” .
October 16, 2021
Perhaps they are personally affected more by the tragedy of what has happened than by the fact of its incidentally also being an outrage?
Who on Earth are you – or anyone else – to say how they should feel?
October 17, 2021
‘incidentally’? It was ‘incidentally an outrage’? That almost dounds as if you are trying to downplay this ferocious terrorist incident. It was deliberately intended to be an outrage.
October 17, 2021
It was a brutal, barbaric, cowardly, cynical crime of the utmost gravity.
People express their deepest emotions as they will, whether it be anguish, sadness, anger or whatever.
Let them do so with an ounce of grace – if you can ever find that in yourself.
October 18, 2021
All outrages and atrocities are tragedies. Not all tragedies are outrages.
October 15, 2021
Words fail me.
Such a waste of a life of a man who lived it, not only for himself and family but others in his chosen career.
Condolences to his family and friends.
October 15, 2021
I have no idea who he was. But that an MP can be killed doing his job is appalling. I feel for his family and those that knew him.
October 16, 2021
+1
October 16, 2021
I wish to extend my condolences to his family and friends due to his senseless murder, having had no personal experience of the gentleman.
I feel it is a symptom of the moral decay of society in the UK, started in the 60s and gradually accelerated to the present day. I do not need to itemise the process in detail, just look around yourselves and note the deteriorating changes. In sixty years the UK has lost it’s moral compass and now individuals and society are reaping the benefit.
October 16, 2021
RIP. Condolences to his family, hs friend nd his constituents.
Senseless
October 16, 2021
After Jo Cox was murdered there was much discussion and hand wringing about the far right, its motivations and its actions.
I wonder if a similar debate will be had now. Cancel culture and moral outrage really only does have only one direction doesn’t it.
October 17, 2021
There was, it now appears, not nearly enough serious consideration given as to what to do about murderous maniacs, whether they be inspired by extreme right wing politics, by religious fanaticism, or by any other twisted ideology.
October 18, 2021
Nottingham Lad Himself: “whether they be inspired by extreme right wing politics,”
There is no ‘right wing’ political activism in the UK. Even the Tory party has moved Left.
‘Extreme right’, ‘right wing politics’, are terms used by the BBC to obfuscate and decieve, in the context of the UK are meaningless.
On the other hand. There are numerous ‘left wing groups’ who are not shy of breaking the law and using intimidation and physical assault as their modus operandi, very successful they’ve been too.
Nottingham Lad Himself: “religious fanaticism”
The Church of England is nothing but a decicated cadavar animated by the State, so tell me, where is this ‘religious fanaticism’ you speak of, coming from?
October 16, 2021
My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues.
Simply awful, and such a senseless act of violence on someone doing their best to try and make the world a better place.
October 16, 2021
A terrible thing to happen in this country – but we should be asking why such events are so common these days?
It’s odd that when these sad events are reported on MSM we are told every time if it was a white person ….. When it is NOT a white person committing the atrocity, they leave out what colour the attacker was.
It’s a good job we don’t have to rely on the deceitful MSM for all of our news, or we would never learn any element of the truth.
October 16, 2021
He was a good man. Much friendlier and jollier to everyone than those who purport to be ‘men of the people’ on the Left of the House. A huge loss to the nation.
RIP.
October 16, 2021
As most of the serious attacks on M.P.s over the last twenty years have taken place at M.P.’s surgeries which for the not very political man in the street is the prime way of meeting an M.P. it surely makes sense for there to be a police guard (probably armed) at those meetings. There will always be a danger and police cannot guard all the time but they now should be there routinely at the time of greatest danger (just as they are routinely present at football matches).
Reply The previous 3 murders of Conservative MPs in the last decades of C20 was from car or hotel bombs. I escaped from the Grand Hotel Brighton unharmed.
October 16, 2021
Reply to Reply:
It was remarkable the way Mrs Thatcher had everyone on parade the next morning, undaunted. She even got M and S to open in the night so everyone had something smart to wear, despite the devastation and the carnage.
October 19, 2021
I escaped from the Grand Hotel Brighton unharmed.
….
My father was Thatcher’s Police bodyguard at the time and He said “someone is going to get the sack for this” as he watched it unfold on TV, yet they never did, why? Whoever let this happen wanted you to know that you will all always be vulnerable, just like they wanted you to feel that way when you went to Chequers. Do not allow yourselves to be surrounded by men with guns.
October 16, 2021
A shocking crime against a man who, by all accounts, was a genuine Constituency MP. Whatever your personal political beliefs are, there is never any justification for violence against an elected political representative.
My condolences to his family.
Unfortunately, I very much doubt that the individual who has been arrested has any understanding of Parliamentary Democracy and even less respect for it.
October 16, 2021
My condolences to his family
Today is about him and his family
October 16, 2021
I agreed with almost nothing David Amess had to say but his death and its circumstances have shocked and disturbed me more than I might have imagined.
October 16, 2021
I knew David very well when we were MPs together. We tried to make the world a better and safer place, but sadly life will never be risk-free for any of us.
October 16, 2021
No one seems to have a bad word to say about the man, I feel very sad and I didnāt even know him.
I do feel that though this might not have had a direct bearing on this murder, labelling Tories as scum, wearing t shirts with ānever kissed a Toryā on it and hash tagging Tory Genocide on Twitter etc., dehumanises Conservatives and increases their danger.
Awful though it is perhaps MPs need to wear stab vests when attending surgeries, one might have saved both Sir David and Jo Cox.
October 17, 2021
+1 – Stab vests within surgeries sounds like an eminently sensible suggestion.
October 16, 2021
Terrible news. He was one of the MPs who earned respect for his integrity. Ian Duncan Smith was also attacked recently and just avoided injury. Because MPs have to travel and meet the public, they are exposed t psychotics and religious head cases with dangerous beliefs. It is time that MPs were given a small pistol or disabling device which could be quickly used to deter any armed attacker when in contact with the public.
October 16, 2021
Because it is your toy cupboard you feel you can Cancel, making you part of the problem. So what is your answer to this horrific situation?
October 19, 2021
None of this is true