House unites in warm salute to ‘first-class’ MP

EVERY MP has “lost a friend” following Sir David Amess’s death, Theresa May said, as a sombre House of Commons gathered to pay tribute to the murdered MP.

Conservative former prime minister Mrs May held up Sir David as an example of how MPs should go about serving the public if they want to be a “first-class constituency MP”. She also hailed him as someone who “made a difference to people’s lives” before saying it was a “wonderful legacy” that Southend will be given city status after his campaign. Home Secretary

Priti Patel added: “It is agonising to know that we will not see his wonderful smile again. And it took no effort on David’s part to conduct the business of politics in a civilised, good-humoured way, which came naturally to him.

“Decency ran through him like the writing in a stick of Southend rock. David represented all that was good about this place, so let us all carry his life forward, and reflect his passionate commitment to making things better for the people we serve.” Former Tory minister Mark Francois described Sir David as his “best and oldest friend in politics”, adding: “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 neighbouring Rayleigh and Wickford added: “Everything I ever learned about being a constituency MP I learnt from David Amess... Without him I would never have become a member of Parliament, so some might well argue he has much to answer for.”