Lib Dems react after David Amess MP dies in stabbing (updated)

Sir David Amess, Conservative MP for Southend West, was stabbed as he met constituents at a regular surgery this lunchtime.  Sir Ed Davey said: “A truly terrible day for British politics but most importantly of all our prayers are with all the people who loved David.”

It is getting ever scarier to be in the public eye. MPs, councillors too, usually have no protection. But it would change the way that elected representatives work if we need to throw a shield around ourselves. However, this event will inevitably lead to a debate on what level of protection our representatives need.

 

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7 Comments

  • David Evans 15th Oct '21 - 5:37pm

    A very sad day. I’m sure that there were quite a few things that we as Lib Dems disagreed with David Amess, but he stood up for what he believed in and his electorate supported him. That is democracy.

    No cause or grievance is so powerful as to justify anything like this. We are all weaker and more vulnerable as a consequence. My thoughts and condolences go out to all his family and friends.

  • Matt Wardman 15th Oct '21 - 5:55pm

    A very sad day.

    Thumbs up (from a not-an-LD) to Ed Davey for striking the right note.

  • John Marriott 15th Oct '21 - 6:14pm

    Besides those MPs, like Jo Cox and Ian Gow, not forgetting Airey Neave, who died while performing their duties, let’s not forget Labour’s Stephen Timms or Lib Dem, Nigel Jones, seriously injured by constituents and, in the latter’s case, his assistant, who died trying to protect him.

    David Amess joins a relatively short list of politicians, both major and not so major, who have fallen victim to violence, fatal or not, while in the process of just doing their job. One is one too many. For me, it just shows how many deranged people there are out there and how vulnerable our representatives are. So terribly sad.

  • Brad Barrows 15th Oct '21 - 6:16pm

    @Justin, John oundle
    I think we need to be careful before assuming motivations or causes for this terrible event.

  • David Evans 15th Oct '21 - 6:37pm

    John is absolutely right, we should also remember Andrew Pennington a good man and a good the Lib Dem, councillor for Hesters Way in Cheltenham, who sacrificed his life helping to protect Nigel Jones. He was posthumously awarded the George Medal for his sacrifice.

  • Jason Connor 15th Oct '21 - 6:43pm

    This is very sad news. I met David Amess once when I worked in Parliament back in the 90s, a really nice guy and a huge loss to his constituents. It’s a total shock to anyone both inside and outside politics.

  • Andy Boddington 16th Oct '21 - 2:38am

    The police have now declared this to be a terrorist incident. It would be helpful if people did not speculate on the details of the event or any underlying causes. There will be more opportunities for the wider debate here on LDV in the coming days.

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