MPs say prayers and observe a minute’s silence for David Amess

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Boris Johnson declared that the Queen has granted David Amess’s 20-year dream of Southend becoming a city today as the Commons gathered to express its grief at his killing. 

The PM told a packed chamber the attack on the Tory veteran had been ‘contemptible’ and struck at the ‘core’ of what it means to be an MP. But he insisted that the fundamental functions of democracy would not be damaged by the murder of ‘one of the nicest, kindest and most gentle’ individuals ever to have sat in the House.

To cheers, Mr Johnson said Her Majesty had agreed that Southend will be upgraded to city status – something Sir David had tirelessly campaigned for over two decades. A gap was left on the green benches where Sir David typically sat. Parliament cancelled almost all of its business today for tributes. 

The Prime Minister later led a sombre procession of around 800 politicians as they filed in to a church service to remember their colleague, Sir David. Wearing black suits, dresses, and face coverings, the MPs and peers walked from Parliament to St Margaret’s Church in Westminster Abbey, central London.  

MPs and peers fell silent as the service to remember Sir David Amess as politicians from all parties, including Jacob Rees-Mogg, Priti Patel and Lisa Nandy sat in the rows behind Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who sat on the front row nearby Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

The Archbishop of Canterbury spoke of Sir David as a ‘friend to his constituents’ who had a ‘robust fairness of spirit and charity of heart’ which endeared him to MPs from all parties. 

Mr Johnson had today told a packed chamber the attack on Sir David was ‘contemptible’ and had struck at the ‘core’ of what it means to be an MP.  

Mr Johnson said all MPs mourn with Sir David’s family, adding in the Commons: ‘Sir David was taken from us in a contemptible act of violence striking at the core of what it is to be a member of this House, and violating both the sanctity of the church in which he was killed and the constituency surgery that is so essential to our representative democracy.

‘But we will not allow the manner of Sir David’s death in any way to detract from his accomplishments as a politician or as a human being. Sir David was a patriot who believed passionately in this country, in its people and in its future. He was also one of the nicest, kindest and most gentle individuals ever to grace these benches.’ 

Sir Keir Starmer added Labour’s condolences, saying Sir David was ‘a man and a politician we can all learn so much from’. He said making Southend a city was a ‘fitting tribute’.    

As touching tributes were paid to the MP today:   

Boris Johnson told the House of Commons that Southend -on-sea will be accorded city status in honour of Sir David Amess;Ali Harbi Ali was referred to counter-terrorism programme Prevent – but not considered ‘extreme enough’ to be passed on to MI5. Friends warned that he was becoming an extremist and was being whipped up by Anjem Choudary’s YouTube videos, which he was ‘utterly obsessed’ with;Spies and police scour suspect’s family connections to Somalia and Kenya for any clues and whether Sir David’s campaigning for Qatar could form part of killer’s motive. But one government insider claimed: ‘He was unlucky. He was not targeted because of his political party. David Amess was not specifically targeted’;Westminster politicians are split over whether police should protect them at constituency events or if private security should be deployed instead;MPs this afternoon paid tribute to Sir David Amess as politicians on all sides grieve his death;Dominic Raab says he has had serious threats to his life – and admits he is open to discussion on MPs wearing stab vests at events. Senior Tory Tobias Ellwood has called on constituency meetings being paused;  The widower of murdered MP Jo Cox, Brendan Cox, said people needed to challenge comments which ‘celebrate political segregation’ citing people who say ‘I’ve never kissed a Tory’ as a ‘badge of honour’;

Announcing the Queen’s approval for elevating Southend to city status, Mr Johnson said: ‘As it is only a short time since Sir David last put that very case to me in this chamber, I am happy to announce that Her Majesty has agreed that Southend will be accorded the city status it so clearly deserves.

‘That Sir David spent almost 40 years in this House, but not one day in ministerial office, tells everything about where his priorities lay.

‘He was not a man in awe of this chamber, nor a man who sought patronage or advancement. He simply wanted to serve the people of Essex.’ 

Downing Street said the award of city status to Southend was a ‘very rare honour’.

‘This was an exceptional circumstance,’ the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman said.

‘It is a very rare honour which Sir David campaigned passionately for.

‘He was a tireless champion of Southend, celebrating its achievements, the work of its residents and its thriving local businesses and diversity.’

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told the chamber earlier: ‘The circumstances of Sir David’s death are despicable and raise the most fundamental issues about how members of this House are able to perform their vital democratic responsibilities safely and securely.

‘In light of the ongoing police investigation I will not say more about the events, but I give the House my undertaking I will do everything in my power to ensure that these issues are treated with urgency and with the sense of priority that they deserve.’

Home Secretary Priti Patel said: ‘His killing is a terrible and sad moment in our history, an attack on our democracy and an appalling tragedy.

‘We are all thinking of David Jr and his family.’

Conservative former minister Mark Francois described Sir David as his ‘best and oldest friend in politics’. 

He proposed bringing forward ‘David’s law’ to crackdown on the online abuse suffered by MPs. 

Former prime minister Theresa May said every MP had ‘lost a friend’ as she paid tribute to Sir David, telling the Commons: ‘Laughter, service, compassion – these are three of the words that spring to my mind when I think of David Amess.’ 

The Commons chaplain, Tricia Hillas, said: ‘May the bright memory of his rich life ever outshine the tragic manner of his death.’ 

Sir David’s heartbroken wife and children today visited the church where the Tory politician was stabbed to death by a suspected Islamist terrorist who was allegedly bent on murdering any MP he could get close to.

His widow Julia Amess wiped away tears as she read messages of love for her late husband outside the Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea along with two of their five children this morning.

Mrs Amess, who also worked for her husband as a part-time caseworker for his Southend West constituency, came to mourn her husband hours after the family said that their hearts had been ‘shattered’ by his ‘cruel and violent death’ at a constituency surgery in Essex. 

They said they could not understand why the ‘patriot and a man of peace’ was targeted by a knifeman he had never met.

Sir David walked his daughter Flo down the aisle in 2019 and she was at her mother’s side today with her American husband Shawn. 

Flo’s sister Katie, an actress and model, also came to look at the flowers and mourn her father while supported by her husband, the Southend rapper Verses Bang. 

But Alexandra, who the MP gave away at her wedding in August, daughter Sarah and son David Jr were not at the church today.

Julia cried as she viewed the huge number of floral tributes piled outside the church where her husband was stabbed to death. Family members comforted one another, with one placing an arm around her, and they stayed for around 15 minutes.

The minister of Belfairs, Rev Clifford Newman, hugged Sir David’s widow during the family visit to the church. The six visitors bowed their heads and formed a semi-circle around the churchman as he gave a short private address.

It came as it was revealed the suspect arrested for murdering him forced to attend an official deradicalisation course after a teacher spotted his extremist views at least five years ago after becoming a ‘huge fan’ of hate preacher Anjem Choudary and his sickening YouTube sermons.

Ali Harbi Ali, 25, is being held by police on suspicion of murdering the veteran Conservative MP as he met with his Southend West constituents on Friday afternoon. It is believed the suspected Islamist terrorist may have chosen his victim at random having become obsessed with killing any MP.

In a heartbreaking statement his family called for people to ‘set aside hatred’, adding: ‘Nobody should die in that way. Nobody. Whatever one’s race, religious or political beliefs, be tolerant and try to understand. We are absolutely broken, but we will survive and carry on for the sake of a wonderful and inspiring man.’

Tears for a murdered husband and father: Sir David Amess’ heartbroken widow and daughters view floral tributes left for tragic Tory MP at Southend church where he was killed after ‘being chosen at random by terror attacker’

By Martin Robinson, Chief Reporter for MailOnline  

Sir David Amess‘ heartbroken wife and children today visited the church where the Tory politician was stabbed to death by a suspected Islamist terrorist who was allegedly bent on murdering any MP he could get close to.

His widow Julia Amess wiped away tears as she read messages of love for her late husband outside the Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea along with two of their five children this morning – hours before Boris Johnson revealed the Queen has given Sir David’s beloved Southend-on-Sea city status in his memory.

Mrs Amess, who also worked for her husband as a part-time caseworker for his Southend West constituency, came to mourn her husband hours after the family said that their hearts had been ‘shattered’ by his ‘cruel and violent death’ at a constituency surgery in Essex. They said they could not understand why the ‘patriot and a man of peace’ was targeted by a knifeman he had never met.  

Sir David had walked his daughter Flo down the aisle in 2019 and she was at her mother’s side today with her American husband Shawn. Flo’s sister Katie, an actress and model, also came to look at the flowers and mourn her father while supported by her husband, the Southend rapper Verses Bang. But Alexandra, who the MP gave away at her wedding in August, daughter Sarah and son David Jr were not at the church today.

Julia cried as she viewed the huge number of floral tributes piled outside the church where her husband was stabbed to death. Family members comforted one another, with one placing an arm around her, and they stayed for around 15 minutes.

The minister of Belfairs, Rev Clifford Newman, hugged Sir David’s widow during the family visit to the church. The six visitors bowed their heads and formed a semi-circle around the churchman as he gave a short private address.

It came hours before the Queen granted the veteran politician his 20-year wish of Southend becoming a city as the Commons gathered to express its grief at his killing.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson told a packed chamber the attack on the Tory veteran had been ‘contemptible’ and struck at the ‘core’ of what it means to be an MP as colleagues paid emotional tributes.

He insisted that the fundamental functions of democracy would not be damaged by the murder of ‘one of the nicest, kindest and most gentle’ individuals ever to have sat in the House. 

Meanwhile it was revealed the suspect arrested for murdering him forced to attend an official deradicalisation course after a teacher spotted his extremist views at least five years ago after becoming a ‘huge fan’ of hate preacher Anjem Choudary and his sickening YouTube sermons.

Ali Harbi Ali, 25, is being held by police on suspicion of murdering the veteran Conservative MP as he met with his Southend West constituents on Friday afternoon. It is believed the suspected Islamist terrorist may have chosen his victim at random having become obsessed with killing any MP.  

In a heartbreaking statement his family called for people to ‘set aside hatred’, adding: ‘Nobody should die in that way. Nobody. Whatever one’s race, religious or political beliefs, be tolerant and try to understand. We are absolutely broken, but we will survive and carry on for the sake of a wonderful and inspiring man.’ 

In Parliament today, Mr Johnson said Her Majesty had agreed that Southend will be upgraded to city status – something Sir David had tirelessly campaigned for over two decades. 

Announcing the Queen’s approval for elevating Southend to city status, Mr Johnson said: ‘As it is only a short time since Sir David last put that very case to me in this chamber, I am happy to announce that Her Majesty has agreed that Southend will be accorded the city status it so clearly deserves.

‘That Sir David spent almost 40 years in this House, but not one day in ministerial office, tells everything about where his priorities lay.

‘He was not a man in awe of this chamber, nor a man who sought patronage or advancement. He simply wanted to serve the people of Essex.’ 

‘A much respected and loved Member of Parliament’: Theresa May leads MP tributes to Sir David Amess

Theresa May: ‘Every member of this House has lost a friend’

The former prime minister said every MP had ‘lost a friend’ as she paid tribute to Sir David Amess in the House of Commons this afternoon. 

She said: ‘Laughter, service, compassion – these are three of the words that spring to my mind when I think of Davis Amess.

‘Laughter because you could never have a conversation with David without laughter and smiling, whether it was because of one of the outrageous stories he was telling – perhaps about one of his colleagues or somebody else – but there were always smiles, always laughter, always fun around David.’ 

Mrs May said Sir David gave an ‘extraordinary’ service to his constituents, adding: ‘I suggest to anybody who wants to be a first-class constituency MP that you look at the example of David Amess.’

Mrs May said Sir David ‘made a difference to people’s lives’, before noting it was a ‘wonderful legacy’ that Southend will be given city status and she urged MPs to ‘bring the same respect, decency and compassion that were the symbols of his life’ when discussing issues.

She concluded: ‘His compassion made a difference to people outside of this House, his kindness made a difference inside this House. Our thoughts and prayers are with Julia and the family. Their loss is devastating.

‘His constituency has lost a much respected and loved Member of Parliament. This House has lost a remarkable and valued parliamentarian, and every member of this House has lost a friend. May he rest in peace.’ 

Mark Francois: ‘Everything I ever learned about being a constituency MP I learnt from David Amess’

Conservative former minister Mark Francois described Sir David as his ‘best and oldest friend in politics’. 

Mr Francois told the chamber: ‘I confess I am hurting terribly so I hope the House will therefore forgive me if because of that my contribution this afternoon is even more incoherent than usual.’

The MP for the neighbouring seat of Rayleigh and Wickford added: ‘Everything I ever learned about being a constituency MP I learnt from David Amess. He sponsored me for the candidates’ list and he mentored me when I arrived.

‘Without him I would never have become a Member of Parliament, so some might well argue he has much to answer for.’

Mr Francois recalled campaigning to help Sir David retain his Basildon seat in 1992, adding: ‘We were out canvassing on a council estate in Pitsea, I’ll never forget it, we knocked on this door and this monster of a bloke opened the door and he looked at us both and looked at the blue rosettes and he said: ‘Conservative? Tory? You must be bloody joking, I’m voting for that David Amess’.’ 

Mr Francois proposed bringing forward ‘David’s law’ to tackle online abuse targeted at MPs, telling the Commons: ‘In the last few years David had become increasingly concerned about what he called the toxic environment in which MPs, particularly female MPs were having to operate in.’

He added: ‘He was appalled by what he called the vile misogynistic abuse which female MPs had to endure online and he told me very recently that he wanted something done about it.’   

Harriet Harman: ‘One of the most dedicated but also the most affable of MPs’

Veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman said Sir David looked ‘beyond’ party differences and worked with a multitude of different MPs.

The MP for Camberwell and Peckham said: ‘Sir David was one of the most dedicated but also the most affable of MPs.

‘He looked beyond party differences to work with so many of us on a multitude of issues of common concern and that’s why there are tears on all sides of the House this afternoon.

‘Most recently, just one example, he took the lead on a cause which I then took up, which was the injustice done to young unmarried mothers whose babies were taken from them in the 1960s and 70s. We’ve all got examples where he has worked with us.

‘My tribute to him will be to redouble my efforts on that, and to remember and to work in the spirit that he exemplified: commitment to constituency, commitment to Parliament, a belief that he could and did make a difference.’ 

James Duddridge: ‘David was a man of faith and convictions’

James Duddridge, the Tory MP who represents the neighbouring seat of Southend East, described Sir David Amess as a ‘great man’, and thanked the Prime Minister for announcing the move to city status. 

Mr Duddridge told the Commons: ‘David was a man of faith and convictions. Faith in his religion, and convictions in his politics. 

‘He was above and beyond everything else a family man, and a very funny man. He’d often break all the rules, cutting through pomp and ceremony, and connecting with people.’

Mr Duddridge, describing Sir David’s character, said the late MP would frequently make up stories when introducing him to others, for example introducing him as a lottery millionaire when attending a charity fundraiser. 

And he told ‘the story of boiled sweet’, describing how on a trip to the Vatican Sir David once accidentally had a boiled sweet blessed by the Pope.

Mr Duddridge thanked Mr Johnson for announcing that Southend will be made a city, saying ‘it means a lot to everybody, it really does’.

He added: ‘The impact of David’s death has been profound on the city. Southend are in shock. And I am in shock.’  

Kim Leadbeater: ‘It’s a rollercoaster of deep trauma that no one should have to experience’

The Labour MP Kim Leadbeater recalled the moment she was told her sister Jo Cox had been attacked, and described the ‘rollercoaster of deep trauma that no one should have to experience’.

Speaking in the Commons, she said she did not know Sir David Amess personally, but said he ‘was clearly a well-respected and much loved colleague to many people in this place’.

She said: ‘It’s been a traumatic few days for many people, none more so than David’s family and friends, and it’s they who remain at the forefront of my mind this afternoon.

‘But sadly I know from my own all-too-similar experience that in reality there is nothing anyone can say to make things all right for them. But nor is it any use to stay silent.

‘I do have a unique perspective on what those closest to David are going through and I want to send them my love, support and solidarity, from myself, my parents, our family, and the people of Batley and Spen.

‘I have blocked out much of what happened when Jo was murdered, but I remember very clearly the moment I took the phone call saying she had been attacked. I remember physically trembling, and the visceral pain that overtook me.

‘And it breaks my heart to think that another family has had to experience that phone call, and the nightmare which follows. It’s a rollercoaster of deep trauma that no one should have to experience.’

Ms Leadbeater said she hoped the tributes will ‘provide a morsel of comfort amidst their pain’. 

Lord Speaker Lord McFall: ‘An exemplar of decency and courtesy’

The Lord Speaker, Lord McFall of Alcluith, led tributes in the upper chamber to Sir David Amess as he said the MP ‘had an ability to make every encounter bright’.

The peer told the House of Lords: ‘Sir David was not a member of this House but he was one of us, he was a true parliamentarian.

‘He was also an exemplar of decency and courtesy.’

Lord McFall said Sir David ‘relished working across the party divides’ and was ‘not tribal’ in his beliefs. 

He added: ‘Not once did I meet him in these corridors over the 34 years we served together without being met with an enormous smile as he bounded towards me with a spring in his step.

‘He had an ability to make every encounter bright, something which reminded me time and time again of the inherent goodness of humanity.’