Priti Patel, Home Secretary, has spoken to security and intelligence agencies as well as police to assess the safety of MPs following the death of Sir David Amess during a constituency meeting
Priti Patel, Home Secretary, has ordered an immediate review to ensure security for MPs following the death of Sir David Amess.
After the murder of the 69-year old MP in Southend West, Patel spoke with police and representatives from the intelligence and security agencies.
A spokesperson for the home Secretary said she had spoken to Sir Lindsay Hoyle the Commons Speaker.
“The home secretary has asked all police forces to review security arrangements for MPs with immediate effect and will provide updates in due course,”According to the spokesperson.
Patel had earlier stated that she was “devastated”She was devastated by Sir David’s passing in an incident she called an “anguishful”. “attack on democracy itself”.
In a series tweets, she said: “That he was killed while going about his constituency duties is heartbreaking beyond words. It represents a senseless attack on democracy itself.
“Rightly, questions are being raised about the safety and security of our elected representatives. I will update you as soon as possible.”
The attack on Sir David death came just five-and-a-half years after Labour MP Jo Cox was killed by a far right extremist in her Batley and Spen constituency in West Yorkshire.
Sir Lindsay said that while it was right that security was reviewed following the latest incident, it was important to avoid “knee-jerk” reactions.
He stated that MPs must be able meet their constituents, which is an essential part the democratic process.
“I am doing my surgery tonight. I recognise some MPs are not doing theirs. What we can’t do is give in to these people, people who don’t believe in our values, don’t believe in what we do,”He spoke on BBC Radio 4’s PM program.
“I believe the electorate needs to be able to communicate with the people who have been elected. It is part of our democratic process.
“We don’t want to see a knee-jerk reaction. We want MPs to be able to perform their duties. We need to ensure MPs’ safety.
“What we can’t have is people trying to stop MPs carrying out their duties. We will not and must not tolerate intimidation, threat, violence and at worst somebody being murdered again.”
Sir Peter Bottomley, who is the Father of House and the longest-serving sitting MP was able to echo his sentiments.
“I predict all over the country this weekend, next weekend and in the months to come MPs will hold advice sessions. That is what we do,”He said.
“There is no perfect security for anybody. My view has always been that in many other walks of life you are at far greater risk than a Member of Parliament.
“MPs may get exceptional publicity. We are not extraordinary people. We are just ordinary people trying to do the same job we do. We are open to taking risks.
“Should MPs cease meeting face-to-face with constituents? The short answer is that we will continue meeting with our constituents.
“Often were are the last people who can help them when they are facing desperate troubles. Their needs, their interests come first.”
In addition to the June 2016 murder of Ms Cox just days before Brexit, Sir David’s attack echoes two previous incidents where MPs were attacked in constituencies.
Roshonara Choudhry was an Islamic extremist who claimed that she wanted to stab Stephen Timms, East Ham MP, twice in the abdomen. “to get revenge for the people of Iraq”.
Mr Timms was seriously injured and, according to police, was hospitalized. “extremely fortunate not to have been killed”He is still an MP. He is still an MP.
In January 2000, Nigel Jones (then MP for Cheltenham) was badly injured when he was attacked by a man holding a sword in his office.
Andrew Pennington, a Gloucestershire county Councillor, was also attacked and killed while trying to defend his position.
