Sir David wrote of ‘nuisance’ callers and the need for extra security at home
SIR DAVID AMESS last year wrote about how the important British tradition of MPS meeting constituents had been changed forever by the murder of Jo Cox outside her constituency surgery.
Sir David made the remarks in his memoir last year. In Ayes and Ears: A Survivor’s Guide to Westminster, published in November 2020, Sir David said the murder of Ms Cox outside her own surgery had been totally unexpected.
On a personal note he had occasionally experienced “nuisance” from constituents who had shown up at his own home, he added. This had led him to regularly check his locks, while other MPS in similar situations had installed CCTV cameras.
Sir David used the same passage to commend the work of the Jo Cox Foundation, which was established to combat loneliness in the wake of her death.
Jo Cox
The murder of Jo Cox was still totally unexpected. She had been an MP for a very short time, having been elected in May 2015. She was approaching the library where her constituency surgery was to be held, when she was attacked and killed in the most barbaric fashion imaginable.
There can be no doubt that as a result of these heightened security concerns most Members have modified or changed the way they interact with the general public. The Commons authorities have taken threats very seriously and have issued guidance for the safety and security of not only Members, but their families. This includes security in their own home. I myself have, over the years, experienced nuisance from the odd member of the general public at my own property. We regularly check our locks and many others have CCTV cameras outside the house installed but probably the most significant change has been with constituency surgeries.
The British tradition has always been that Members of Parliament regularly make themselves available for constituents to meet them face to face at their surgeries. Now advice has been given to be more careful when accepting appointments. We are advised to never see people alone, we must be extra careful when opening post and we must ensure that our offices are properly safe and secure. In short, these increasing attacks have rather spoilt the great British tradition of the people openly meeting their elected politicians.