Who’s MP Tobias Ellwood? Westminster terror attack hero given bravery award after giving mouth-to-mouth to police officer killed in London tragedy

CONSERVATIVE MP Tobias Ellwood bravely tried to save PC Keith Palmer’s life after he was fatally stabbed by the Westminster terrorist.

The serving MP for Bournemouth East delivered an emotional tribute to Britain’s police service as he was honoured for his bravery in the attack.

Who is Tobias Ellwood?

The 52-year-old was born in New York to British parents.

He attended Loughborough University before going on to study at the Cass Business School at City University.

He joined the British Army in the Royal Green Jackets from 1991.

After his stint in the army, where he reached Captain, he became a researcher to Conservative MP Tom King.

He was elected as a councillor in 1999 for Dacorum Borough Council.

What is Mr Ellwood’s position in Government?

Since his appointment as MP for Bournemouth East in 2005 he has remained as MP there.

He was appointed to the Opposition Whips Office in December 2005.

In a reshuffle in July 2007 he was promoted by David Cameron to be Shadow Minister for Culture, Media and Sport.

He was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Defence Secretary, Dr Liam Fox.

In October 2013 he was then appointed as PPS to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt MP.

Following a series of other parliamentary appointments he was made Parliamentary Under Secretary of State to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 2014, a position he remains in today.

What happened to Mr Ellwood’s brother?

The former soldier lost his brother Jonathan in the Bali terrorist bombings in 2002.

Jon was a teacher in the country for a conference.

He was killed in the second of two blasts that tore through the night club area of Kuta on Bali.

It took three days for his family to find out he was dead.

The minister flew out to Bali to bring his body home.

Mr Ellwood said: “”I had to do many of those things myself to the point where I ended up screwing the lid down on the coffin myself. That can’t be right.”

What did Tobias Ellwood do in the 2017 London attack at Westminster?

The Tory MP was seen with blood on his mouth and clothes as he tried to stem the blood flow by applying pressure to the wounds of a policeman after the Westminster attack on March 22.

The minister, who was formerly a British Army officer, tried to save PC Keith Palmer but he died at the scene after being stabbed by extremist Khalid Masood.

Mr Ellwood waited for the air ambulance to arrive after helping paramedics and police on the scene.

He spoke with officers before returning to the Foreign Office.

Mr Ellwood was presented with a coat of arms and the Police Federation shield in recognition of his actions.

He said he “reacted in the way that I thought was appropriate and I was one of many that stepped forward to do what we thought was right”.

Mr Ellwood continued: “What came home to me after the Westminster incident was just how close-knit your fraternity is and just how you don’t know what’s round the corner.

“And yet every day you put your uniform on and you stand in harm’s way so we can continue our work.
“That really came home with all the messages of thanks I got.

“I’m just sorry I couldn’t, and those others with me, couldn’t do more to save Keith Palmer’s life.”