David Amess latest updates – Ali Harbi Ali ‘radicalised watching Anjem Choudary on YouTube’ as MP’s wife pays tribute

Iain Duncan Smith on Sir David

***This is a comment piece by Iain Duncan Smith***

I CONFESS to shedding a few tears when I heard of the brutal death of David Amess, as I thought of his family which I know he loved so much.

He knew he was vulnerable, as all MP’s are when we invite constituents to come and discuss their problems face to face.

Yet he also knew that face to face contact with our constituents is a vital part of the job.

Without it, our whole political system would mean less and we would become strangers to those we serve. 

For most of our constituents we often become the last hope as they battle with institutions, trying to seek redress for problems damaging their lives.

Read more here

Former minister calls for one-to-one meeting ban

A former Conservative minister has urged his fellow MPs to stop offering face-to-face meetings with constituents following the fatal stabbing of Sir David Amess.

Tobias Ellwood, who attempted to save the life of Pc Keith Palmer following a terror attack on Westminster in 2017, was quoted on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.

“I would recommend that no MP has a direct surgery until you can move to Zoom,” Mr Ellwood said, in comments originally made on the station’s The World Tonight programme.

“There are other ways.

“You can actually achieve an awful lot over the telephone, you can get things moving far faster than having to wait for the surgery date as well.”

Tory MP says members will now be ‘wary’ following Sir David death

Conservative MP Bob Blackman said MPs will now be “wary” of what they do in light of Sir David Amess’s death.

He told the PA news agency: “I’ve had demonstrations that were outside my office from various different groups at different times, which is quite scary, particularly for staff.

“I think it’s like everything else, you’ve just got to be wary of what you do now, because, unfortunately, we don’t know what else is going to happen.”

Southend West Councillor against Zoom constituency meetings

Councillor Kevin Buck, deputy chairman of the Southend West constituency association, said he is against moving MPs’ surgery meetings to Zoom after the death of colleague Sir David Amess.

Mr Buck said 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.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, he said: “I don’t think he would have approved, I personally don’t approve really, I know we have to take our own personal safety very seriously, but I enjoy, as Sir David did, meeting the people.

“That’s why we do this, so that we can lead the people and help the people and I don’t want to do that from behind a TV screen or from behind the glass screen or a security box because then we’ve lost.”

Priti Patel says MPs will not be ‘cowed’

The Home Secretary has said politicians will not be “cowed” following the fatal stabbing of MP Sir David Amess, which police believe may be linked to Islamist extremism.

Priti Patel visited the scene at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea on Saturday morning alongside Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to pay their respects to Sir David, less than 24 hours after he was killed at a constituency surgery.

Ms Patel said security measures were being put in place to protect MPs but vowed they will carry on serving the country unimpeded in the face of the attack, which the Metropolitan Police have declared was a terrorist incident.

Speaking at Southend Police Station, the Home Secretary said: “We will carry on, we live in an open society, a democracy. We cannot be cowed by any individual or any motivation… to stop us from functioning, to serve our elected democracy.”

Asked whether there could be a balance between the safety of MPs and the democratic process, she said: “It can be balanced, it can absolutely be balanced.”

Jacqui Smith warns of ‘attack on democracy’

Jacqui Smith, former Labour MP and chairwoman of the Jo Cox Foundation, described the fatal stabbing of Sir David Amess as “an attack on our democracy”.

Ms Smith said it is right to have a review of MPs’ security and physical safety, but she added it needs to go “far further than that”.

She told BBC Breakfast: “All of us have a responsibility to protect our democracy, which is so important for this country. We can’t do that unless we protect and respect those people who are elected as part of it.

“Sometimes for MPs it’s actually quite difficult for them to argue for special treatment, but they are special.

“They are the people who are elected in our democracy to represent us and we all therefore have a responsibility to treat them with respect and to ensure that they’re safe as they go about that job.”

‘My daughter loved him’

A steady stream of people laid flowers near the police cordon outside Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, where MP Sir David Amess was stabbed to death.

Local resident Samantha Macdonald, 44, tearfully recalled meeting Sir David when he came to her school when she was 12.

She told the PA news agency: “He was always so involved with the community, so accessible as well – prided himself on being accessible.

“He knew every head teacher’s name of every school in his constituency. My 13-year-old daughter absolutely loved him.”

David’s family ‘can’t believe this happened’

THE devastated cousins of tragic MP Sir David Amess have laid flowers outside the Essex church where he was yesterday murdered.

The politician was meeting constituents when he was brutally knifed by a man who had quietly waited for an appointment.

While his wife Julia and five children grieve privately today, a bouquet signed from family has been placed at the scene.

The moving note reads: “RIP David. Thinking of your lovely family.

“Can’t believe this has actually happened.

“We will always love you.”

Ali sat calmly waiting for cops

Sources have said Ali did not say anything of note during the attack on Tory MP Sir David Amess but was seen using his mobile phone moments afterwards.

He was said to have sat down calmly to wait for cops and picked up his phone before his arrest.

It's not known whether he used the phone to record any comments after the attack or to send a message to a third party.

But the actions, seen by witnesses in the room, are understood to be at the centre of why investigators labelled the attack a “terror incident,”  reports.

Man arrested after death threat sent to MP following killing of Sir David

A MAN has been arrested after MP Chris Bryant received death threats in the wake of Sir David Amess' death.

The Rhondda MP said he was sent the malicious post after calling for people to be kinder after the Tory MP was stabbed to death on Friday.

A 76-year-old man has now been arrested on suspicion of malicious communications.

Mr Bryant spoke about the abuse he receives - claiming it has happened every year he has been a Labour MP.

He said: "The year before it was anti-vaxxers, the year before we had Brexit campaigners plastering the word 'traitor' all over my office."

Family ‘absolutely broken’ by Sir David Amess’ murder

The family of murdered Sir David Amess said tributes paid to the Conservative MP have given them strength as they try to come to terms with his “cruel and violent” death.

In a statement released through the Metropolitan Police, Sir David’s family said they are “absolutely broken” after he was attacked while meeting constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on Friday.

They said: “Strong and courageous is an appropriate way to describe David. He was a patriot and a man of peace.

“So, we ask people to set aside their differences and show kindness and love to all. This is the only way forward. Set aside hatred and work towards togetherness.

“Whatever one’s race, religious or political beliefs, be tolerant and try to understand.

“As a family, we are trying to understand why this awful thing has occurred. Nobody should die in that way. Nobody.”

A 25-year-old man, understood by the PA news agency to be Ali Harbi Ali, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of Sir David’s murder and remains in police custody.

Lindsay Hoyle went ahead with constituency surgery

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has said he went ahead with his constituency surgery as normal on Friday evening, despite the killing of Sir David Amess.

Sir Lindsay said it was essential that MPs were able to retain their relationship with their constituents.

“We have got to make sure that democracy survives this,” he told BBC2’s Newsnight.

“I did my surgery tonight because people are not going to stop us. The one thing we have is a relationship with our constituents,

“It is that relationship we have built up, that trust with the electorate where they can meet their MP, share those issues, share those problems. What David was doing today, I have done tonight.”

Suspect named

THE man arrested for the murder of Tory MP Sir David Amess has been named as Ali Harbi Ali.

The 25-year-old, who is a British national with Somali heritage, is not thought to have been previously known to the security services.

However, the investigation is still in its early stages and that could change if new details emerge.

The suspect was arrested on Friday at a Methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, where the MP for Southend West had been meeting constituents.

Sources confirmed his name to the Sun this evening.

Suspect named

THE man arrested for the murder of Tory MP Sir David Amess has been named as Ali Harbi Ali.

The 25-year-old, who is a British national with Somali heritage, is not thought to have been previously known to the security services.

However, the investigation is still in its early stages and that could change if new details emerge.

The suspect was arrested on Friday at a Methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, where the MP for Southend West had been meeting constituents.

Sources confirmed his name to the Sun this evening.

Mosques condemn attack as ‘indefensible atrocity’

The fatal stabbing of MP Sir David Amess has been condemned as an “indefensible atrocity” in a joint statement from all of Southend’s mosques, as police said the attack may be linked to Islamist extremism.

Faith leaders said that the father-of-five was an “upstanding friend to our Muslim community” and attended key events, including weddings, mosque openings and the launch of the town’s first Muslim Scout group.

In a statement published on the Essex Jamme Masjid website, on behalf of “all Southend mosques”, they said their thoughts and prayers were with Sir David’s family, friends and colleagues.

“Sir David’s murder was an indefensible atrocity, committed on the grounds of a place of worship and we condemn it in the strongest possible terms,” the statement said.

“This act was committed in the name of blind hatred, and we look forward to the perpetrator being brought to justice.”

Sir Amess tribute to be added to Dame Vera Lynn statue

The daughter of Dame Vera Lynn has said she will include a tribute to Sir David Amess in a memorial to her mother that the Tory MP campaigned for.

Virginia Lewis-Jones, a family friend of Sir David, said she will add a tribute to the statue of her mother once it is created.

The Southend West MP supported and helped launch the Dame Vera Lynn Memorial Appeal, a campaign working to have a statue erected in honour of the forces’ sweetheart after her death.

The statue is expected to cost around £1.5 million which has not yet been raised, but renewed efforts are being made to publicise the campaign and to now honour Sir David.

The statue will be designed and created by sculpture Paul Day and will be situated on the White Cliffs of Dover, the subject of one of Dame Vera’s most famous songs.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Ms Lewis-Jones said: “I think in some way, David should also be remembered in the memorial for what he has done to this point and hopefully in spirit will continue to do.

“We’ve got to continue, not only for my mother but also for David for what he began and for what we will continue to do because it’s half his memorial as well.”

‘An attack on democracy’

Home Secretary Priti Patel has condemned the killing of Sir David Amess as an “attack on democracy”, which raises renewed questions about the security of MPs.

Ms Patel expressed concern that 69-year-old Sir David was fatally stabbed while holding a constituency surgery in his Southend West seat.

His death came just five-and-a-half years after Labour MP Jo Cox was killed by a far right extremist in her Batley and Spen constituency in West Yorkshire.

Ms Patel said she was “devastated” by the loss of Sir David, who she described as a “kind and loyal friend”.

“That he was killed while going about his constituency duties is heart-breaking beyond words. It represents a senseless attack on democracy itself,” she said in a series of tweets.

“Questions are rightly being asked about the safety of our country’s elected representatives and I will provide updates in due course.”

Labour calls for opposition parties to stand aside in by-election

A Labour peer has called for all major opposition parties to stand aside in the Southend West by-election out of respect for Sir David Amess after he was murdered serving his constituents.

Former minister Lord Pendry, who said he was on friendly terms with Sir David, said a decision not to contest the seat should be taken to “honour” the Conservative politician.

“This is an occasion when you see the leader of the Opposition (Sir Keir Starmer) and the Prime Minister together, and it shows that our democracy transcends all that sort of thing,” he told PA news agency.

“I think we should be saying that whoever the Conservatives put up, it is their seat because they were deprived of it, so they should have it back.”

All four surviving PMs pay tribute

All four surviving former prime ministers also paid tribute to the long-serving MP.

Theresa May said his death was “heartbreaking” and “a tragic day for our democracy”, adding: “A decent man and respected Parliamentarian, killed in his own community while carrying out his public duties.”

David Cameron said it Sir David was “the most committed MP you could ever hope to meet”, and said: “David Amess was a kind & thoroughly decent man. Words cannot adequately express the horror of what has happened today.”

Tony Blair, who also became an MP for the first time in the 1983 election, said he was “horrified” by the attack, commenting: “Though on opposite political sides I always found him a courteous, decent and thoroughly likeable colleague who was respected across the House.”

Sir John Major said: “This is truly heartbreaking news of a good and decent man who – for over 30 years – was a dedicated public servant. My heart goes out to his family.”

Police have made extensive searches of Ali's home

Police yesterday made extensive searches of Ali’s home in Kentish Town as well as his father’s house in Bounds Green, both North London, and his mother’s in Croydon, in the south of the city.

Friends of his highly educated and well-connected family spoke of their shock at Ali’s arrest and claimed he was studying medicine.

His dad Harbi is a former spokesman for the Somali government who fled to London to escape civil war.

Harbi Farah told The Sun: “I have known his dad Harbi for more than ten years. He’s a good man and this will be very upsetting for him.

“He’s a well-respected member of the Somali community in Britain and also in Somalia."

Personality changed

Last night a former pal told how Ali had been a popular pupil who loved playing football at their secondary school in Croydon, South London.

They said: “He had been a really lovely lad. A devoted ­Muslim and very popular. He enjoyed football and was very normal and we’d all go to the cinema.

“He’d socialise and everyone really liked him.”

However the friend said his personality then changed dramatically in the sixth form after being lured into extremism online.

The pal went on: “He watched a lot of extreme videos including those posted by Choudary and his followers. Everyone used to say to him, ‘But he’s a hate cleric and hates the West’ but he didn’t care. He became a huge fan.

“He admired Anjem, said he was right and his cause was right. It disgusted me. We were all very, very worried.

'Radicalised after watching YouTube videos of hate preacher Anjem Choudary’

SUSPECTED MP killer Ali Harbi Ali was radicalised after watching YouTube videos of hate preacher Anjem Choudary, former friends claimed last night.

As a first photo of the alleged knifeman emerged, school pals said vile online material turned him from a popular pupil into an extremist.

Sir David Amess’ grief-stricken family said: “We are broken.”

One friend who witnessed his dramatic change told The Sun last night: “Choudary was someone he became utterly obsessed with.”

Despite Ali’s radicalisation, relatives claimed he had trained to become an NHS doctor after spending four years at a top medical school.

But investigators are confident that Ali, 25, was not directed by terror kingpins abroad.

Coat of arms for Sir David

Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle says he would like to see Sir David Amess’ coat of arms put up in the House of Commons.

Speaking to Times Radio he confirmed there would be a chance for MPs to pay tribute to Sir David when the House of Commons sat in the afternoon.

Serving MPs who are killed in action while in office have traditionally been given the honour of having their coat of arms placed on the walls of the debating chamber.

It originally started as a tribute to MPs who were killed fighting in wars but now it is a tribute to anyone who is killed on the job.

The last person to receive the honour was Jo Cox with a plaque designed by her children.

Suspect ‘radicalised after watching videos of Anjem Choudary’

SUSPECTED MP killer Ali Harbi Ali was radicalised after watching YouTube videos of hate preacher Anjem Choudary, former friends claimed last night.

As a first photo of the alleged knifeman emerged, school pals said vile online material turned him from a popular pupil into an extremist.

Despite Ali’s radicalisation, relatives claimed  he had trained to become an NHS doctor after spending four years at a top medical school.

But investigators are confident that Ali, 25, was not directed by terror kingpins abroad.

He had been previously referred to the Government’s Prevent anti-terror scheme but investigators are still piecing together how and when he became radicalised.

Sources said his online contacts — and what material he viewed — were now “prime movers” in the investigation into the murder of Tory MP Sir David Amess.

Dame Vera Lynn’s daughter pays tribute

Virginia Lewis-Jones, daughter of Dame Vera Lynn and family friend of Sir David Amess, has said she will add a tribute to the MP to the statue of her mother that the pair fundraised for.

Sir David supported and helped launch the Dame Vera Lynn Memorial Appeal, working to have a statue erected in honour of the forces’ sweetheart after her death, although the target of £1.5 million has not yet been hit.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Ms Lewis-Jones said: “I think in some way, David should also be remembered in the memorial for what he has done to this point and hopefully in spirit will continue to do.

“We’ve got to continue, not only for my mother but also for David for what he began and for what we will continue to do because it’s half his memorial as well.”