A senior Conservative MP has called for a temporary pause in face-to-face meetings between parliamentarians and their constituents following the killing of Sir David Amess on Friday.
Tobias Ellwood, who was hailed as a hero for his attempts to save the life of PC Keith Palmer during the Westminster terror attack in 2017, said physical engagements should be halted until the Home Office has completed its review of MPs’ security.
His comments come less than 24 hours after Mr Ellwood’s colleague, Tory MP David Amess, was stabbed to death in his constituency.
Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood says face-to-face meetings between constituents and MPs should be temporarily paused following Sir David’s death
Sir David, who represented Southend West in Essex, was holding a constituency surgery at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea when he was stabbed multiple times on Friday.
Shortly before 3pm, Essex Police confirmed Sir David, a father-of-five who had been an MP for 38 years, had died.
A 25-year-old man – understood to be a Briton with Somali heritage – was arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder.
He is in custody at an Essex police station.
Police say the fatal stabbing of Sir David has been declared a terrorist incident.
Following his killing, there has been much debate over the safety of MPs.
Sir David Amess had been an MP for 38 years
Home Secretary Priti Patel has asked all police forces to review security arrangements for MPs “with immediate effect” following the attack.
Posting on social media on Saturday morning, Mr Ellwood, who chairs the influential Commons Defence Select Committee, said: “MP engagement with the public: This is a vital part of our work – our accessibility with the public.
“But understandable huge anxiety amongst MPs now. Until the home secretary’s review of MP security is complete I would recommend a temporary pause in face to face meetings.”
On Friday, fellow Conservative MP Steve Brine was asked by Sky News if he has had fears for his own safety while an MP.
Home Secretary Priti Patel has asked all police forces to review security arrangements for MPs ‘with immediate effect’ following the attack
He replied: “Oh yeah. You bet.”
But not all MPs are of the view that normal business should be temporarily disrupted in the wake of Sir David’s killing.
Conservative former minister David Davis told Sky News he disagrees with fellow Tory Mr Ellwood’s suggestion that face-to-face meetings between MPs and constituents should be paused, adding: “I don’t think it would be a good reflection of David’s memory to stop that in any way.”
Mr Davis told Sky News: “Whilst we all love him and admire him, what we shouldn’t do in response to his tragic murder is break that link which he was the absolute champion of.”
David Davis told Sky News he disagrees with Mr Ellwood’s suggestion that MPs’ face-to-face meetings should be paused
He continued: “The simple truth is one of the unusual aspects of British democracy is the close relationship between individual members of parliament and their constituents and walking down the street, going to the shop, living in your constituency, talking to a neighbour, having surgeries, having meetings – all these things are critical to the operation of British democracy – and I think it would not be the right thing.
“I mean, sure we should be cautious – maybe we should do things to try to ensure that people who come to see us are bona fide and so on – but I think actually pausing it would be a bad idea.
“It would be a terrible reflection of what David (Amess) stood for. David himself was the ultimate constituency MP and you can see that in the response from people in his constituency.”
Conservative MP for High Peak, Robert Largan, said he would be continuing with his weekly advice surgery on Saturday and invited members of the public to come along without an appointment.
Another Conservative MP John Redwood posted on social media: “We must ensure our representative traditions continue as David Amess would wish.
“Violence must not stifle open debate nor the safe access of MPs to constituents’ views.
“Margaret Thatcher spoke the morning after the Brighton bomb to make the point murderers do not win.”
Conservative MP John Redwood said ‘violence must not stifle open debate’. Pic: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor
Work and Pensions minister Guy Opperman tweeted that democracy must “keep going”.
“I am an MP I had surgeries today in Hexham with constituents, knocked doors in Allendale, and went to my local pub I will do all this next week and hold the Tyne Jobs Fair,” Mr Opperman said.
“On Friday I mourn Sir David Amess… but for all my House of Commons colleagues, we keep going #Democracy.”
Speaking on Friday, Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle promised to “examine” safety measures for MPs following the killing of Sir David, but cautioned against a “kneejerk reaction”.
He described himself as “shocked and deeply distressed” by Sir David’s death – the second killing of an MP in their own constituency in little more than five years.
Flowers were placed at the scene in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex
Sir Lindsay told Sky News that he had gone ahead with his own constituency surgery on Friday following the news of Sir David’s death.
“Nothing will stop democracy, nothing will stop us carrying out our duties,” he said. “Those people who don’t value the job that we do, those people who don’t support us will not win – hence why I’ve had my surgery tonight.”
Sir Lindsay said he would continue to “look at” security measures, adding: “We won’t sit back on our laurels, of course we know the challenges. We’ve got to protect MPs and allow them to carry out their duties. The duties that the electorate put them there for – to speak, to meet and to make sure that their views are conveyed to parliament.”
And Conservative MP and Father of the House of Commons Sir Peter Bottomley said he predicts MPs will continue to hold physical surgeries.
“The question is – should MPs stop meeting their constituents face-to-face? The answer is we will go on meeting our constituents face-to-face,” he told the PA News agency.
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said he would continue to ‘look at’ security measures
Councillor Kevin Buck, deputy chairman of the Southend West constituency association, said he is against making MPs’ surgery meetings virtual following Sir David’s death.
Mr Buck told BBC Breakfast he does not believe Sir David would have wanted meetings to go online, nor would he have wanted extra protection such as metal detectors and a police presence at face-to-face talks with constituents.
Also speaking to the BBC, veteran Labour MP Harriet Harman said she will be writing to the prime minister asking him to back a Speaker’s Conference to review the safety of parliamentarians in their constituencies following the death of Sir David.
People have left tributes to Sir David outside the church in Leigh-on-Sea
Meanwhile shadow minister Lucy Powell said Greater Manchester Police have ensured “extra support” is in place for her following the killing.
She tweeted: “I’ve had a number of reassuring calls from Greater Manchester Police today. Some extra measures and support being put in place. Much appreciated.”