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| David Amess latest: Priti Patel says MPs ‘cannot be cowed by any individual’ | David Amess latest: Priti Patel says MPs ‘cannot be cowed by any individual’ |
| (33 minutes later) | |
| Patel was speaking in Leigh-on-Sea where PM earlier laid wreath at front of Belfairs Methodist church, where Tory MP was fatally stabbed on Friday | Patel was speaking in Leigh-on-Sea where PM earlier laid wreath at front of Belfairs Methodist church, where Tory MP was fatally stabbed on Friday |
| Hundreds of people attended a candlelit vigil in memory of MP Sir David Amess. | |
| Southend councillor Alan Dear addressed those gathered in a circle around dozens of glowing candles on the grass. | |
| “For me, and I know for all of you because you’re here, it’s been a terrible 24 hours for all of us,” he said. | |
| He went on: “For me, (Sir David) was a good friend, and I know he was a good friend to all of you here. | |
| “He spent 40 years of his life caring for the constituents of Basildon and Southend. | |
| “He’s a person I will never forget. He’s always been available. | |
| “If you ever needed help he was there. I know he’s helped many of you here this evening.” | |
| The Liberal Democrats have confirmed they will not be putting a candidate forward for the Southend West byelection. | |
| The party is set to follow the principle established after Jo Cox’s murder in 2016, when the major parties declined to nominate candidates for the subsequent Batley and Spen byelection. | |
| A Labour peer has called for all major opposition parties to stand aside in the Southend West by-election out of respect for Sir David Amess after he was murdered serving his constituents. | A Labour peer has called for all major opposition parties to stand aside in the Southend West by-election out of respect for Sir David Amess after he was murdered serving his constituents. |
| Former minister Lord Pendry said a decision not to contest the seat should be taken to “honour” the Conservative politician. | Former minister Lord Pendry said a decision not to contest the seat should be taken to “honour” the Conservative politician. |
| “This is an occasion when you see the leader of the opposition (Sir Keir Starmer) and the prime minister together, and it shows that our democracy transcends all that sort of thing,” he told PA news agency. | “This is an occasion when you see the leader of the opposition (Sir Keir Starmer) and the prime minister together, and it shows that our democracy transcends all that sort of thing,” he told PA news agency. |
| “I think we should be saying that whoever the Conservatives put up, it is their seat because they were deprived of it, so they should have it back. | “I think we should be saying that whoever the Conservatives put up, it is their seat because they were deprived of it, so they should have it back. |
| “I think all the major parties should stand aside in the interest of democracy and our own democratic way of life.” | “I think all the major parties should stand aside in the interest of democracy and our own democratic way of life.” |
| Sky News is reporting that Labour and the Liberal Democrats will not stand candidates to contest the Southend West by-election. | Sky News is reporting that Labour and the Liberal Democrats will not stand candidates to contest the Southend West by-election. |
| People have now gathered at Belfairs Recreation Ground to light candles and pay tribute to Sir David Amess. | People have now gathered at Belfairs Recreation Ground to light candles and pay tribute to Sir David Amess. |
| The vigil is near Belfairs Methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, where the MP died after being stabbed multiple times on Friday. | The vigil is near Belfairs Methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, where the MP died after being stabbed multiple times on Friday. |
| It was business as usual as MPs held constituency surgeries less than 24 hours after the death of Sir David Amess. Amess was killed while meeting constituents in Leigh-on-Sea on Friday, five-and-a-half years after Jo Cox, a Labour MP, was killed by a far-right extremist. Some MPs on Saturday called for a review of safety procedures before resuming meetings with constituents. But Alec Shelbrooke held a surgery at a local supermarket, and said he would continue to do so even if he had to “add a few more precautions”. | It was business as usual as MPs held constituency surgeries less than 24 hours after the death of Sir David Amess. Amess was killed while meeting constituents in Leigh-on-Sea on Friday, five-and-a-half years after Jo Cox, a Labour MP, was killed by a far-right extremist. Some MPs on Saturday called for a review of safety procedures before resuming meetings with constituents. But Alec Shelbrooke held a surgery at a local supermarket, and said he would continue to do so even if he had to “add a few more precautions”. |
| The local football team, Southend Manor Football Club, have paid their respects to Sir David Amess before an under-16s game against Wakering Sports FC. | The local football team, Southend Manor Football Club, have paid their respects to Sir David Amess before an under-16s game against Wakering Sports FC. |
| Labour MP for Hull East Karl Turner said there was only so far politicians could go to protect themselves from attacks without alienating constituents. | Labour MP for Hull East Karl Turner said there was only so far politicians could go to protect themselves from attacks without alienating constituents. |
| He told PA news agency he has not considered suspending face-to-face meetings in the wake of Sir David Amess’ murder, having only recently resumed them after coronavirus restrictions were lifted. | He told PA news agency he has not considered suspending face-to-face meetings in the wake of Sir David Amess’ murder, having only recently resumed them after coronavirus restrictions were lifted. |
| “I think other MPs feel more vulnerable but I think we have got to carry it on. | “I think other MPs feel more vulnerable but I think we have got to carry it on. |
| “We have to be vigilant ourselves, that’s the truth. I’ve got CCTV in almost every room in the constituency office - I’ve always had that, even before Jo (Cox). | “We have to be vigilant ourselves, that’s the truth. I’ve got CCTV in almost every room in the constituency office - I’ve always had that, even before Jo (Cox). |
| “I think you can do as much as you can possibly do but if a knife-wielding maniac bursts into your room, what can you do about that really? | “I think you can do as much as you can possibly do but if a knife-wielding maniac bursts into your room, what can you do about that really? |
| “I think you’ve got to take the risk. I’m not pretending to be any kind of a hero, far from it, but I think it is a pretty bad deal if you can’t see your MP.” | “I think you’ve got to take the risk. I’m not pretending to be any kind of a hero, far from it, but I think it is a pretty bad deal if you can’t see your MP.” |
| Labour MP Diane Abbott said she would prefer to meet constituents behind a screen to prevent possible stab attacks. | Labour MP Diane Abbott said she would prefer to meet constituents behind a screen to prevent possible stab attacks. |
| But the former shadow home secretary said having constituency surgeries observed by police could risk putting people off from visiting their local MP. | But the former shadow home secretary said having constituency surgeries observed by police could risk putting people off from visiting their local MP. |
| Abbott told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “It’s very difficult. I’ve been talking to colleagues. There was one in north London who was telling me that because of death threats she had a police officer outside her advice session - and a police car, in fact. | Abbott told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “It’s very difficult. I’ve been talking to colleagues. There was one in north London who was telling me that because of death threats she had a police officer outside her advice session - and a police car, in fact. |
| “Well of course the number of people coming to see her dropped right down. | “Well of course the number of people coming to see her dropped right down. |
| “You don’t want to have a set-up which is so off-putting to ordinary people that just want help. So I wouldn’t support airport-style screening. | “You don’t want to have a set-up which is so off-putting to ordinary people that just want help. So I wouldn’t support airport-style screening. |
| “I would prefer going forward to meet constituents behind a screen, as we have now for Covid and so on – that might be quite complicated to arrange but at least you know someone’s not going to just lean over the desk and stab you, which could happen now.” | “I would prefer going forward to meet constituents behind a screen, as we have now for Covid and so on – that might be quite complicated to arrange but at least you know someone’s not going to just lean over the desk and stab you, which could happen now.” |
| Rev Clifford Newman, of Belfairs Methodist Church – where Sir David Amess was killed – said the MP held his surgery there because he wanted to be where his constituents were. | Rev Clifford Newman, of Belfairs Methodist Church – where Sir David Amess was killed – said the MP held his surgery there because he wanted to be where his constituents were. |
| He told the PA news agency: “The church is a natural place where people look to. | He told the PA news agency: “The church is a natural place where people look to. |
| “He was a person who was for the community and wanted to be in the community, and so a church is obviously a community place. | “He was a person who was for the community and wanted to be in the community, and so a church is obviously a community place. |
| “It’s a Methodist church, so it’s not like Catholic or Anglican churches, it’s much less formal, but there are pews within the church and it has a couple of community halls.” | “It’s a Methodist church, so it’s not like Catholic or Anglican churches, it’s much less formal, but there are pews within the church and it has a couple of community halls.” |
| Counter-terrorism detectives are investigating whether David Amess was specifically targeted for attack by a man who stabbed the MP multiple times, then waited for police to arrest him. | Counter-terrorism detectives are investigating whether David Amess was specifically targeted for attack by a man who stabbed the MP multiple times, then waited for police to arrest him. |
| The suspected terrorist attack just after midday on Friday, at the constituency surgery of the backbencher for Southend West, has stunned Westminster and forced a review of MPs’ security. | The suspected terrorist attack just after midday on Friday, at the constituency surgery of the backbencher for Southend West, has stunned Westminster and forced a review of MPs’ security. |
| The atrocity was assessed by senior counter-terrorism officials as being linked to a jihadist ideology because of developments in the investigation after the suspect was arrested, the Guardian understands. | The atrocity was assessed by senior counter-terrorism officials as being linked to a jihadist ideology because of developments in the investigation after the suspect was arrested, the Guardian understands. |
| These include statements the suspect allegedly made after police detained him. | These include statements the suspect allegedly made after police detained him. |