My fears we’ll see another MP killed
One year on from death of pal David Amess, Speaker Hoyle reveals worry keeps him awake at night
COMMONS Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle lies awake worrying he could receive a phone call telling him another MP has been murdered.
The veteran politician was a close friend of Tory MP Sir David Amess, 69, who was stabbed to death at a constituency meeting 12 months ago yesterday.
He was also deeply affected by the killing of fellow Labour MP Jo Cox, 41, who was shot and knifed in 2016 when he was deputy speaker.
He said: “I remember getting a call to tell me Jo Cox had been murdered. Five years later I picked up the phone to hear that Sir David had been attacked. The one thing that keeps me awake at night is the worry of having another phone call.
“I never want to have to pick up another phone call to say another Member of Parliament has been murdered.”
Sir David was knifed by Ali Harbi Ali while meeting constituents in Leigh-onsea, Essex. Ali, 26, is serving a whole-life order. Paying tribute to the MP for Southend West, Sir Lindsay, 65, said: “David was larger than life, full of hu
mour and friendship. He always took the trouble to be there for people.”
Determined to avoid another tragedy, the Speaker appealed to MPS to take up all security measures offered to them.
The member for Chorley, Lancs, said: “I say to them ‘You might feel it won’t happen to you’, but that’s what I thought about David Amess and the threats against other friends and colleagues.”
Revealing he has had death threats and abuse, he vowed to crack down on hate, intimidation and bullying of MPS on social media. He also urged MPS to set a good example by respecting one another.
Meanwhile, Sir David’s widow Julia Arnold sent her “heartfelt thanks” to around 150 wellwishers who gathered at one of his favourite spots in Chalkwell Park, Southend, yesterday. She and their five children did not attend but Mayor Kevin Robinson told the crowd the family was heartened by them coming together to see a tree planted in his memory.
Tony Cox, a friend of Sir David for over 20 years, wept and said: “Today is a very tough day for us.” And Tory MP Anna Firth, who took on Sir David’s seat, said: “Although he has gone, his values remain – cheerfulness, courage, kindness and understanding over division and, above all, peace and people over politics.”
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