Sir David revealed MPS had been given security advice about holding surgeries

SIR David Amess recently wrote of how MPS had received security advice about holding surgeries, and how attacks had “spoilt the great British tradition” of the voters meeting politicians.

In Ayes & Ears: A Survivor’s Guide To Westminster – which was published last November – he wrote about Jo Cox’s murder and how she had been attacked “in the most barbaric fashion imaginable”.

The country was rocked when the 41-year-old Labour MP for Batley and Spen was shot and stabbed in her constituency by a far-right supporter on June 16, 2016.

Sir David also wrote about the machete attack on Nigel Jones MP, which resulted in his aide’s death as he tried to protect him.

Mr Jones, then MP for Cheltenham, was severely injured in January 2000 when he was attacked in his offices by a man with a sword.

Andrew Pennington, a Gloucestershire county councillor, was killed in the same attack while trying to defend the then-mp.

He was posthumously awarded the George Medal for bravery.

The attacker, Robert Ashman, had been suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and was deemed unfit to stand trial and was ordered to be detained indefinitely in a secure hospital.

Amess mentioned he had experienced “nuisance from the odd member of the general public” at his own property.

He said most MPS had changed the way they interacted with voters, and the Commons authorities took the threats to members faced very seriously.

MPS were issued with safety guidance for themselves and their families, Sir David wrote.

Writing about the attack on Mr Jones, which happened in 2000,

Sir David said: “We all make ourselves readily available to our constituents and are often dealing with members of the public who have mental health problems, it could happen to any of us.”

About security, he said: “We regularly check our locks and many others have CCTV cameras 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 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.”

Sir David also mentioned frequently being abused online, and how “ignorant cowards” could remain anonymous.

He said: “The law in this regard needs to be changed and updated as a matter of urgency.”