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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| MP Timms stabbed in the stomach | MP Timms stabbed in the stomach |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Former Labour minister Stephen Timms has been stabbed in the stomach at a constituency event in east London. | Former Labour minister Stephen Timms has been stabbed in the stomach at a constituency event in east London. |
| Mr Timms, 54, is being treated in Royal London Hospital. His injuries are not said to be life-threatening. | Mr Timms, 54, is being treated in Royal London Hospital. His injuries are not said to be life-threatening. |
| A 21-year old woman was arrested after the attack at about 1500 BST at the Beckton Globe Library in Newham, where the MP holds a regular surgery. | A 21-year old woman was arrested after the attack at about 1500 BST at the Beckton Globe Library in Newham, where the MP holds a regular surgery. |
| Mr Timms served at the Treasury under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and was recently re-elected as MP for East Ham. | Mr Timms served at the Treasury under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and was recently re-elected as MP for East Ham. |
| I saw him being dragged into another room. There was blood on his shirt An eyewitness | |
| A 16-year-old girl, who did not want to be named, was present at the surgery and described the scene. | |
| "I saw everyone screaming. There was a bit of blood on the floor," she said. | |
| "It was quite dramatic. I saw him being dragged into another room. There was blood on his shirt." | |
| The Mayor of Newham Sir Robin Wales said: "My understanding is there was an appointment made for the woman. | |
| "At the beginning of the interview she stabbed him." | |
| He added that the MP was due to undergo exploratory surgery. | |
| Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman passed on her best wishes and said: "Parliament needs to consider how best to ensure MPs can carry out their responsibilities safely. | Acting Labour leader Harriet Harman passed on her best wishes and said: "Parliament needs to consider how best to ensure MPs can carry out their responsibilities safely. |
| "One of the great strengths of the British political system is the everyday accessibility of MPs to their constituents, but we can't have a situation where MPs are at risk." | "One of the great strengths of the British political system is the everyday accessibility of MPs to their constituents, but we can't have a situation where MPs are at risk." |
| 'Real gentleman' | |
| Mr Timms is reported to be sitting up in Royal London Hospital and talking to staff. A hospital spokesman described his condition as stable. | Mr Timms is reported to be sitting up in Royal London Hospital and talking to staff. A hospital spokesman described his condition as stable. |
| Several MPs sent Mr Timms their best wishes via Twitter. | Several MPs sent Mr Timms their best wishes via Twitter. |
| Labour MP for Glasgow South Tom Harris wrote: "Awful news, Stephen. Wishing you a very speedy recovery." | Labour MP for Glasgow South Tom Harris wrote: "Awful news, Stephen. Wishing you a very speedy recovery." |
| Greg Mulholland, Liberal Democrat MP for Leeds North West, wrote: "Awful news about Stephen Timms, thank goodness not life threatening. | Greg Mulholland, Liberal Democrat MP for Leeds North West, wrote: "Awful news about Stephen Timms, thank goodness not life threatening. |
| "Stephen is one of politics' thoroughly nice guys, a real gentleman." | "Stephen is one of politics' thoroughly nice guys, a real gentleman." |
| The MP has regularly spoken out against knife crime in his constituency, particularly among young people. | The MP has regularly spoken out against knife crime in his constituency, particularly among young people. |
| Mr Timms holds regular surgeries at the Beckton Globe Library | |
| In 2006, he spoke at an event to mark the death of 15-year-old Charlotte Polius, who was stabbed while walking in the street the previous year. | In 2006, he spoke at an event to mark the death of 15-year-old Charlotte Polius, who was stabbed while walking in the street the previous year. |
| Mr Timms later issued a statement expressing his "thanks and gratitude to both the staff at Beckton Globe for their assistance, and the ambulance and hospital staff for their fantastic care." | Mr Timms later issued a statement expressing his "thanks and gratitude to both the staff at Beckton Globe for their assistance, and the ambulance and hospital staff for their fantastic care." |
| The MP was a close confidant of both Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling during Labour's 13 years in government, serving latterly as financial secretary to the Treasury. | The MP was a close confidant of both Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling during Labour's 13 years in government, serving latterly as financial secretary to the Treasury. |
| Largest majority | Largest majority |
| He has been MP for the constituency - and previously for Newham North East - since 1994. | He has been MP for the constituency - and previously for Newham North East - since 1994. |
| His personal popularity in his constituency is reflected by the fact that he secured a 7.7% swing from the Conservatives in last week's election, when Labour was generally losing ground across the country. | His personal popularity in his constituency is reflected by the fact that he secured a 7.7% swing from the Conservatives in last week's election, when Labour was generally losing ground across the country. |
| Mr Timms won a remarkable 70.4% of the vote and his 27,826 majority is the largest in the new House of Commons. | Mr Timms won a remarkable 70.4% of the vote and his 27,826 majority is the largest in the new House of Commons. |
| Married to Hui-Leng Lim, he describes himself as a Christian Socialist and is Labour's vice-chairman for faith groups. | Married to Hui-Leng Lim, he describes himself as a Christian Socialist and is Labour's vice-chairman for faith groups. |
| Cabinet ministers and former ministers, particularly those who served in departments such as the Home Office and the Northern Ireland Office, have security protection. The majority of MPs do not. | Cabinet ministers and former ministers, particularly those who served in departments such as the Home Office and the Northern Ireland Office, have security protection. The majority of MPs do not. |
| In 2000 Liberal Democrat MP Nigel Jones was wounded and his aide, Andrew Pennington, was stabbed to death in a frenzied sword attack during a constituency surgery at the party's office in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. | In 2000 Liberal Democrat MP Nigel Jones was wounded and his aide, Andrew Pennington, was stabbed to death in a frenzied sword attack during a constituency surgery at the party's office in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. |
| Mr Jones, a married father-of-three, was conducting his weekly surgery when he received lacerations to his hands and arms while fending off blows from Robert Ashman, who was jailed for manslaughter and attempted murder. | Mr Jones, a married father-of-three, was conducting his weekly surgery when he received lacerations to his hands and arms while fending off blows from Robert Ashman, who was jailed for manslaughter and attempted murder. |