of essex and the whole of the united kingdom. 0ne local councillor who was at the scene expressed the shock felt in the community. we've lost a very good, hard—working constituency mp who worked for everyone, didn't matter who you were, didn't matter about your religion or your culture, if you had a problem, he would work for you. police say they are keeping an open mind as to whether this could be... we will bring you all the latest reaction in the next hour. good evening and welcome to the bbc news at six. the conservative mp sir david amess has been stabbed to death during a constituency meeting at a church in essex. the 69—year—old was attacked as he met with constituents in leigh—on—sea just before midday. police arrived at the belfairs methodist church within minutes but sir david died at the scene despite the efforts of paramedics. a 25—year—old man was arrested at the church and is being held on suspicion of murder. sir david amess had been an mp in essex for almost a0 years. he is the second serving mp to be killed while attending a constituency surgery in five years, following the death of the labour mp jo cox. tonight the prime minister has described sir david as a fine public servant one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics. our home affairs correspondent, daniel sandford reports. forensics teams at the methodist church where the local mp had been holding his fortnightly surgery. sir david amess's meeting with constituents had been from ten until one butjust after midday he was stabbed multiple times. he was treated at the scene by police and ambulance staff but died before they could get him to hospital. sir david amess was the mp for southend west and well respected locally. he represented the seat for the conservative party since 1997 and was a high profile breaks a of the european research group. mil was a high profile breaks a of the european research group. all our hearts are — european research group. all our hearts are full _ european research group. all our hearts are full of _ european research group. all our hearts are full of shock _ european research group. all our hearts are full of shock and - european research group. all our. hearts are full of shock and sadness today _ hearts are full of shock and sadness today to _ hearts are full of shock and sadness today to the loss of sir david amess mp who _ today to the loss of sir david amess mp who was killed in his constituency surgery in a church after _ constituency surgery in a church after almost 40 years of continuous service _ after almost 40 years of continuous service to _ after almost 40 years of continuous service to the people and the whole of the _ service to the people and the whole of the united kingdom. the reason i think people are so shocked and saddened — think people are so shocked and saddened is above all he was one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people— the kindest, nicest, most gentle peddle in— the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics. the the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics.— people in politics. the police investigation _ people in politics. the police investigation is _ people in politics. the police investigation is in _ people in politics. the police investigation is in its - people in politics. the police investigation is in its early i investigation is in its early stages but a 25—year—old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder. detectives say the man was detained shortly after officers arrived on the knife was recovered at the scene. one witness who was opposite the church when it happen told me he saw a woman coming out and calling an ambulance, and then after armed police arrived he saw a man of african appearance being led away. as constituents gathered near the church there was a sense of acute shock and all working to pay tribute regardless of which party they had voted for. it regardless of which party they had voted for. , ,., regardless of which party they had voted for. , ., . , , voted for. it is so tragic, this is such a nice _ voted for. it is so tragic, this is such a nice area. _ voted for. it is so tragic, this is such a nice area. for— voted for. it is so tragic, this is such a nice area. for this - voted for. it is so tragic, this is such a nice area. for this to - such a nice area. for this to happen, what can i say? we such a nice area. for this to happen, what can i say? we saw all these peeple _ happen, what can i say? we saw all these people pass. _ happen, what can i say? we saw all these people pass. he _ happen, what can i say? we saw all these people pass. he was - happen, what can i say? we saw all these people pass. he was doing i happen, what can i say? we saw alli these people pass. he was doing so brilliant _ these people pass. he was doing so brilliant dark for all the local residents. 69 brilliant dark for all the local residents-— brilliant dark for all the local residents. ~' , ., ,, residents. 69 years old, sir david is a veteran _ residents. 69 years old, sir david is a veteran politician _ residents. 69 years old, sir david is a veteran politician who - residents. 69 years old, sir david is a veteran politician who was i is a veteran politician who was first elected to parliament in 1983. he has perm the second mp to be killed in the constituency serve the jury killed in the constituency serve the jury in just five years. jo cox was murdered injune 2016. jury in just five years. jo cox was murdered in june 2016.— jury in just five years. jo cox was murdered in june 2016. today is a dark and a — murdered in june 2016. today is a dark and a shocking _ murdered in june 2016. today is a dark and a shocking day _ murdered in june 2016. today is a dark and a shocking day the - murdered in june 2016. today is a dark and a shocking day the more| murdered in june 2016. today is a i dark and a shocking day the more so because heartbreakingly we have been here before. informed by his faith, sir david had a profound sense of public duty and he was highly respected and much liked across the houses of parliament on all sides. the murder of another mp at a meeting with constituents has again sent shock waves through the world of politics. how can politicians do their best for those they represent if public surgeries are seen as too dangerous? priti patel has asked all police forces around the county to review security arrangements for mps with immediate effect. that is according to home office spokesman in the few minutes. last talks of a father of the house of commons, sir peter bottomley. he was first elected in 1974. thank you very much for speaking to us. i should ask you first for your reaction to that request by priti patel. it first for your reaction to that request by priti patel. it may be her 'ob request by priti patel. it may be herjob to _ request by priti patel. it may be herjob to do — request by priti patel. it may be herjob to do that _ request by priti patel. it may be herjob to do that but _ request by priti patel. it may be herjob to do that but it - request by priti patel. it may be herjob to do that but it is - request by priti patel. it may be herjob to do that but it is my i request by priti patel. it may be | herjob to do that but it is my job herjob to do that but it is myjob to say mps are occasionally at risk but less than an officer going on call. a woman walking home alone, mps being attacked or killed may get more publicity but we aren't the only people who may suffer through no fault of our own. i hate threats against mps, i hated desperation it'll make their problems better by attacking a member of parliament. we aren't special, we may be more newsworthy but we share the risks and the comparative safety of most people in this country most of the time. . , . people in this country most of the time. ., , ., , time. there was a very well 'udged worse in terms * time. there was a very well 'udged worse in terms of h time. there was a very well 'udged worse in terms of putting h time. there was a very welljudged worse in terms of putting this - time. there was a very welljudged worse in terms of putting this into | worse in terms of putting this into some kind of context and that is hard to do in the immediate aftermath of a terrible event like this but we went for an 1812 to 2016 without a single member of parliament is being killed outside of the irish question, and yes in the last few years we have had for, in the last 20 years, we've had four attacks. it may be internationally not a significant number but i was speaking to an american journalist who said, the united states, lots of people die in violent attacks and it is rare for a representative of the people to be attacked in this way. do you think there is anything that is driving this or if these are random events? is is driving this or if these are random events?— is driving this or if these are random events? , ., random events? is neither one thing drivin: it random events? is neither one thing driving it or — random events? is neither one thing driving it or run _ random events? is neither one thing driving it or run them. _ random events? is neither one thing driving it or run them. it _ random events? is neither one thing driving it or run them. it is _ random events? is neither one thing driving it or run them. it is so - driving it or run them. it is so rare that most of the time we shouldn't be thinking about it. most mps will be holding sessions this week, next week and hopefully forever. there is one suggestion i'm tempted to make is the major parties or to agree if there is a by election called by this kind of attack, the parties won't stand against the incumbent parties. we will allow, you can't stop betty should say, they should be balance. i'm not sure the american person is right. there have been bad attacks on elected representatives in america. the presidents roughly every 20 years, not for the last 30 or 40, every 20 years, not for the last 30 or40, have every 20 years, not for the last 30 or 40, have had attacks on them. ronald reagan, jfk was attacked as a we... if you go around the world, if you go to india, these things happen. i think we are losing your line. let's see if we can get it back. do you want to pick up your thoughts. both of the attacks in america were uncommon politicians. i am more at risk driving to and from my constituency than i am serving my constituents are meeting them face—to—face. constituents are meeting them face-to-face._ constituents are meeting them face-to-face. can i ask you about sir david amess _ face-to-face. can i ask you about sir david amess because - face-to-face. can i ask you about sir david amess because he - face-to-face. can i ask you about | sir david amess because he would seaman arrive as a keen young thing in 1983 and watched as he matured from a cheeky chappie and entertaining figure for the media and for the public, a man who championed his constituency and his county with passion, into a very, very effective parliamentarian. he was a very effective parliamentarian. he: was a serious person. he was chairman of the fire safety group. we've had three joint meetings together the last six months, both of which were well attended. those who think, you are right to describe him as a cheeky chappie, he could be serious about things which mattered in his constituents and people throughout england. when i talk about david, i try to do it with a smile. what has happened to him is awful but don't look on this as a horror, look at it at someone who wanted to serve at all costs. you have the people who have the jobs where there is more violence, more threats and sadly more death. do what is sensible for most, don't think we should all be mollycoddled. when i heard the ira was gathering information on me i offer to go to northern ireland. most of us can move forward, we can move forward together. maybe we won't all survive but i hope those who do will say, what we are trying to do is write, meet the people, serve the people because it is through our constituency work we learn how to change national policy. in constituency work we learn how to change national policy.— change national policy. in that resect, change national policy. in that respect. sir — change national policy. in that respect, sir david _ change national policy. in that respect, sir david amess - change national policy. in that respect, sir david amess was | change national policy. in that i respect, sir david amess was an effective mp?— effective mp? absolutely, from be . innin: effective mp? absolutely, from beginning to — effective mp? absolutely, from beginning to end. _ effective mp? absolutely, from beginning to end. there - effective mp? absolutely, from beginning to end. there were l effective mp? absolutely, from - beginning to end. there were things which were cheerful and not important like the bulk of the year show but most of it was the good of his constituents. i hope he looks down from heaven tonight and say that about 650 people who will carry on what he was doing. that that about 650 people who will carry on what he was doing.— on what he was doing. that is a sincere tribute. _ on what he was doing. that is a sincere tribute. the _ on what he was doing. that is a sincere tribute. the father - on what he was doing. that is a sincere tribute. the father of i on what he was doing. that is a l sincere tribute. the father of the house of commons, thank you very much for being with us this evening. essex police made the statements, here is the chief constable. atjust here is the chief constable. at just after here is the chief constable. atjust after midday here is the chief constable. at just after midday today, essex police were called to reports of a stabbing in eastwood road north, leigh—on—sea. the response of emergency services to this incident was immediate and our officers arrived on scene within minutes. when they arrived, they found sir david amess mp who had suffered multiple injuries. this was a difficult incident but our officers and paramedics in the east of england ambulance service worked extremely hard to try to save sir david. tragically, he died at the scene. a25—year—old man was arrested immediately at the scene on suspicion of murder. he remains in custody. a knife was also recovered at the scene. the investigation is in its early stages and is being led by officers from the specialist counterterrorism department. we made it clear at the time of incident that we did not believe there was any immediate further threat to anyone else the area. it would be for investigators to determine whether or not this is a terrorist incident. as always, they will keep an open mind. today is a tragic day for the family and colleagues also david, the community of southend and indeed for the whole of greater essex. sir david has dedicated his life to serving the communities of essex and southend and today he was simply dispensing his duties. i know the residents of essex and southend west will stand with me today in remembering a member of our community. we have enjoyed a long—standing and positive working relationship with sir david and today's events will be hard to take for everyone who knew him. a specially trained family liaison officers are providing support to his family today. our officers will continue to work around the clock to ensure justice is delivered for sir david and his family. i would like to thank the people of southend for their understanding as the investigation continues. i would urge anyone who have any information in relation to this terrible incident to call essex police on 101, online or indeed via crimestoppers. finally, iask 101, online or indeed via crimestoppers. finally, i ask for everybody to respect the privacy of sir david's family at this difficult time. and lastly, to say my personal thoughts having worked with sir david and all of those from essex police and our prayers are with sir david and his family at this difficult time. thank you. thank you chief constable. _ difficult time. thank you. thank you chief constable. this _ difficult time. thank you. thank you chief constable. this is _ difficult time. thank you. thank you chief constable. this is a _ difficult time. thank you. thank you chief constable. this is a shocking l chief constable. this is a shocking and utterly despicable attack against — and utterly despicable attack against somebody who was an outstanding mp. he worked tirelessly for the _ outstanding mp. he worked tirelessly for the community for many, many years _ for the community for many, many years my— for the community for many, many years. my prayers are with sir david and his— years. my prayers are with sir david and his family at this incredibly difficult — and his family at this incredibly difficult time. i know from personal experience — difficult time. i know from personal experience the passion with which he stood _ experience the passion with which he stood up _ experience the passion with which he stood up for— experience the passion with which he stood up for and represented this community. he had a big heart. i also _ community. he had a big heart. i also want — community. he had a big heart. i also want to— community. he had a big heart. i also want to acknowledge the officers — also want to acknowledge the officers who attended the event for their bravery and courage. it is vital— their bravery and courage. it is vital that— their bravery and courage. it is vital that we give the police all our support to ensure they can do their— our support to ensure they can do theirjob at this time. for anybody who has— theirjob at this time. for anybody who has information, please do not hesitate _ who has information, please do not hesitate to — who has information, please do not hesitate to contact the police. thank — hesitate to contact the police. thank you. that is roger hurst, the thank you. — that is roger hurst, the police and crime commissioner and before that the chief constable of essex police. speaking in the last hour on the investigation into the killing of sir david amess. a reporter was listening to that. you sir david amess. a reporter was listening to that.— listening to that. you could tell from their— listening to that. you could tell from their status _ listening to that. you could tell from their status how - listening to that. you could tell from their status how shocked | listening to that. you could tell i from their status how shocked they are. we haven't learnt any more facts to be perfectly honest about the nature of the attack on the circumstances of what happened at the methodist church where sir david was holding his constituency surgery, his regular friday surgery. but the most important thing is we have established it has been confirmed scotland yard counterterrorism has taken privacy in this. what that means is, the counterterrorism network, all of that huge resources, are being thrown at this investigation to establish exactly what the circumstances are. i'm a caveat that by saying it doesn't mean this was an of terrorism because police are keeping an open mind as to what was behind, what was the motive for this attack on sir david. what it means is, they will have an enormous amount of resources thrown at theirs. the man who has been taken into custody, this 25—year—old man who was arrested at the scene which indicates the suspect wasn't someone they apprehended after leaving the scene, his devices will be interrogated by specialist officers looking for clues as to his motive. if it is going to be terrorism, they will be looking at evidence of mindset and ideology, that is a critical part of these investigations. the second thing is a team of specialist officers will be going through his home, they will be going through his home, they will be conducting the most incredible search you can possibly imagine. i have known searches involving counterterrorism officers which have gone on for many days, tearing up floorboards and peeling back wallpaper in some instances, looking for evidence. this is the scale of what is going on. only if police find evidence of an ideological mindset that this attack was allegedly carried out for an ideological purpose where the call this an act of terrorism. what essex police have got is all these resources coming in to help them but we are still not closer to understanding the motive. as to the individual, he is in custody. if the police believe there is a possibility this is an act of terrorism they can rearrest him and holding under the terrorism act which means they can hold on for a lot longer. which means they can hold on for a lot loner. , ., which means they can hold on for a lot loner. , :, , which means they can hold on for a lot longer-— lot longer. they have been four instances _ lot longer. they have been four instances when _ lot longer. they have been four instances when mps _ lot longer. they have been four instances when mps were - lot longer. they have been four. instances when mps were attacked lot longer. they have been four- instances when mps were attacked in their surgeries. the lib dem peer lord nigeljones and his assistant andrew pennington were attacked in his constituency in cheltenham in january 2000. andrew pennington died as a result of the attack. it is an incident he doesn't talk about that he has decided to speak today to the bbc. i'm horrified by it. he was a lovely man, he did the job to the best of his ability. he was a pal and i'm just devastated that we will never see him again. over 20 years on from the attack in your constituency office on yourself, do you feel more needs to be done to protect mps in these types of situations? well, you can make a case for mps because they are in the public eye but it's notjust mps, it's everybody else. shop workers and anybody who comes face—to—face with the public. they can come to grief because there is someone who has some kind of grudge against them or the system, so i wouldn't like to make a special case for mps. but i think more needs to be done to protect people and to get violence out of our society. however much you disagree with someone, you don't kill them. it is the nature of an mp's work, the constituency surgeries and constituency events are a key bit of every friday in particular. do you think enough had been learned about how to keep mps safe? no, i don't think so. meeting constituents is a very important part of an mp's job. i must admit, when the attack happened on me, my reaction for several weeks afterwards was, i need a bodyguard 24 hours a day. but, of course, that would be impossible to implement and very expensive for the public. and it's notjust mps, it's everybody else. we've somehow got to get a system where people just don't get this high, this viciousness in them, and stop the violence that is in our society and all too many places. do you think something needs to be changed where, we are now living in an era of zoom on skype, and online meetings have taken hold in the last 18 months, two years. do you think for sitting mps, something needs to be changed that their security is may be made more secure by constituency work being done more online? there is a case for that and there's also a case for mps and peers being able to contribute to the house of commons, house of lords proceedings remotely, particularly those who live a long way away from london. yes, you can do remote constituency surgeries put there is really nothing quite like being face—to—face with someone who, perhaps might not be too articulate, but you can try and find out what exactly their problem is and then give your best help. i'm sad to ask this question but to go back 20 years to the attack on yourself and andrew, did you have any warning? did you have any time to react? did the system in place protect you or give you knowledge of what might be coming? no, the system in place when i became an mp in the early days was, you got a piece of paper from the house authorities there said try to remain inconspicuous in your constituency. well, in a marginal seat bus the last thing you want to do, you want people to know you are round and about and doing a job. things have improved a bit. there are no courses they hold to enable mps, peers and staff to understand something of how you can bring people down from a high of violence, talk them down so you can discuss their problems sensibly and get a proper conclusion. what has happened today is just so awful and my sympathies go out to david and his family and all his friends, and his constituents in southend west. lord jones, the former liberal democrat mp, nigeljones, talking about the terrible incident he experienced back in 2000. within the last half an hour, the home office has said priti patel has asked all police forces to review security arrangements for mps with immediate effect. martin horwood new sir david. you are a long serving resident of cheltenham before becoming an mp so you knew nitrogen is well. in the light of what nigel jones was saying, i wonder if you might cast your mind back to what that incident had on the town back in 2000. it was very traumatic for all of us who knew nigel and who were friends of andrew. many of us lost a friend and colleague but i think the trauma was very widespread actually. cheltenham is the kind of place, just like southend now, where you expect these things to happen. that is not the kind of place. it isn't just the immediate family but parliamentary staff, his constituency colleagues were traumatised by this. and their friends and family were concerned for them. the ripple effect was a very wide and it was a shocking moment. the news on that occasion came out in dribs and drabs, it wasn't clear what had happened all who had been killed initially. we were in a state of shock.- who had been killed initially. we were in a state of shock. when you took over from _ were in a state of shock. when you took over from that _ were in a state of shock. when you took over from that constituency i were in a state of shock. when you i took over from that constituency and became its mp, inevitably, security must have been a concern just because of what had happened was that what had happened, the death of a dearfriend, the serious injuries to his hand that nigeljones suffered, let alone the mental trauma of what he saw in losing andrew pennington. did it at all affect your behaviour, the behaviour of your staff, how your colleagues? was there a mindfulness that came in as part of the legacy of that? yes. as part of the legacy of that? yes, i'm afraid as part of the legacy of that? yes, i'm afraid to _ as part of the legacy of that? yes, i'm afraid to say _ as part of the legacy of that? yes, i'm afraid to say it _ as part of the legacy of that? yes, i'm afraid to say it was. _ as part of the legacy of that? yes, i'm afraid to say it was. we - i'm afraid to say it was. we designed my office with that memory in our minds. i'm afraid i met constituents with a desk between me and a constituent and we make sure there was a side exit and my staff knew how to contact the police in an emergency. we were mindful and we designed the office to make it safe in that scenario and, luckily, that was never necessary or is never necessary to take advantage of. i think it is right that you have to be mindful after an occasion like this, you have to be conscious of it, not let it dominate things. it didn't stop me meeting constituents, to be available to constituents and it won't stop any mps as nigel said doing theirjob as members of their community. you can't cut yourself off from a community, you can't go behind a fortress wall. that is not the job in this country, behind a fortress wall. that is not thejob in this country, thejob is to be part of your local community. but it is sensible to take precautions and to take advice and i am sure it is right to reflect on whether that security can be improved now. can whether that security can be improved now.— whether that security can be improved now. whether that security can be imroved now. :, ., , :, :, whether that security can be imroved now. :, ., i. :, .,, improved now. can i ask you one last thou~ht improved now. can i ask you one last thought was. — improved now. can i ask you one last thought was. you _ improved now. can i ask you one last thought was, you sat _ improved now. can i ask you one last thought was, you sat in _ improved now. can i ask you one last thought was, you sat in a _ improved now. can i ask you one last thought was, you sat in a different i thought was, you sat in a different party from david amess but i wonder what your recollections are of him? he was one of the nicest people you could meet, notjust in politics but in life in general. i disagreed with him on many things where we disagreed on brexit, equal marriage, he had deeply held views and they weren't always the same as mine. you could disagree with him and then he would treat you like a long lost friend the next minute. he was one of the kindest, nicest people that you could meeting any walk of life. i'm sure everybody who has been with him in parliament and everybody who has worked with him, whether in southend of the conservative party, will feel they have lost a good friend. he was one of those immensely likeable and gentle people. this is often said when people. this is often said when people die and it is often lots of phrases firmed out about how lovely they were, but its really was the case in david's case. he was a lovely man and he will be sorely missed. :, ~ lovely man and he will be sorely missed. :, ,, , :, lovely man and he will be sorely missed. :, ~' , :, , lovely man and he will be sorely missed. :, ,, i. , . let's speak to the conservative mp, john whittingdale. thank you very much forjoining us on a very sad day. it thank you very much for 'oining us on a very sad day._ on a very sad day. it is, it is an absolute _ on a very sad day. it is, it is an absolute tragedy. _ on a very sad day. it is, it is an absolute tragedy. i _ on a very sad day. it is, it is an absolute tragedy. i have - on a very sad day. it is, it is an | absolute tragedy. i have known on a very sad day. it is, it is an - absolute tragedy. i have known david as a friend _ absolute tragedy. i have known david as a friend for nearly 40 years, we have _ as a friend for nearly 40 years, we have been— as a friend for nearly 40 years, we have been six parliamentary colleagues for 30 years. he was a terrific— colleagues for 30 years. he was a terrific mp. — colleagues for 30 years. he was a terrific mp, he cared passionately about— terrific mp, he cared passionately about his — terrific mp, he cared passionately about his constituents and he was available — about his constituents and he was available to them and it is all the more _ available to them and it is all the more tragic that he should metres and in _ more tragic that he should metres and in this— more tragic that he should metres and in this way and it is a huge loss— and in this way and it is a huge loss for— and in this way and it is a huge loss for the _ and in this way and it is a huge loss for the people of south a huge loss for the people of south a huge loss for— loss for the people of south a huge loss for parliament in general and of course — loss for parliament in general and of course we think about his family at this— of course we think about his family at this terrible time. he of course we think about his family at this terrible time.— at this terrible time. he kind of, he was the _ at this terrible time. he kind of, he was the epitome _ at this terrible time. he kind of, he was the epitome of— at this terrible time. he kind of, he was the epitome of the - at this terrible time. he kind of, | he was the epitome of the essex at this terrible time. he kind of, - he was the epitome of the essex man in the early 90s. that shot of him beaming, grinning widely, he always had a cheshire cat smile. in 1992, the nightjohn major won against the odds, big conservative victory and i was on the first seeds to declare that labour had hoped to win. what do you think the qualities he brought to thejob do you think the qualities he brought to the job that made him able to hold a seat like that. he was first elected way, way back. in 1983. in the thatcher area. basil did was the litmus test and the fact that david one in four conservative party was the proof that the thatcher government was a sweeping end. and he was a great campaigner, so he moved subsequently to southend and then he was passionate about southend. and david champion did many causes during his time in parliament but the thing he cared about most was his constituents in southend. it almost became a joke which he made that whatever particular issue he was raising bit prime ministers questions are other times he would always end with his call for southend to be made a city. it was indicative of his total commitment to his constituency and the people. he had to come up i mentioned it earlier. he had a kind of tigger quality to him. a sort of balance and an enthusiasm about almost everything he seems to be involved with. he almost everything he seems to be involved with.— involved with. he was immensely cheerful and _ involved with. he was immensely cheerful and great _ involved with. he was immensely cheerful and great company. - involved with. he was immensely cheerful and great company. he i involved with. he was immensely i cheerful and great company. he was also hugely entertaining. he was always— also hugely entertaining. he was always positive and optimistic and immensely supportive of anybody who came to _ immensely supportive of anybody who came to him with any problems. he was a _ came to him with any problems. he was a very— came to him with any problems. he was a very generous spirits and for that reason— was a very generous spirits and for that reason i think he was liked right— that reason i think he was liked right across the whole of parliament as has _ right across the whole of parliament as has been demonstrated by one of the many, _ as has been demonstrated by one of the many, many tributes paid today. does this— the many, many tributes paid today. does this cause you to reflect on security as an mp? you've been an mp since the early 90s.— since the early 90s. well, it's obviously _ since the early 90s. well, it's obviously something - since the early 90s. well, it's obviously something one - since the early 90s. well, it's obviously something one is i since the early 90s. well, it's i obviously something one is aware since the early 90s. well, it's - obviously something one is aware of but it— obviously something one is aware of but it is— obviously something one is aware of but it is part — obviously something one is aware of but it is part of the job. that we are available and it's very important that we should be. as it happens _ important that we should be. as it happens i've had a meeting with the chief superintendent for north essex this morning and of course we are aware _ this morning and of course we are aware and — this morning and of course we are aware and at the end of the day it's incredibly— aware and at the end of the day it's incredibly important that mps remain available _ incredibly important that mps remain available and accessible to their constituents. and that's such a fundamental part of the job that we have this _ fundamental part of the job that we have this linkage that we, you know it would _ have this linkage that we, you know it would diminish the role of an mp hugely— it would diminish the role of an mp hugeiv if— it would diminish the role of an mp hugeiv if it — it would diminish the role of an mp hugely if it was any reduced. so we need _ hugely if it was any reduced. so we need to— hugely if it was any reduced. so we need to go— hugely if it was any reduced. so we need to go on being careful in taking — need to go on being careful in taking precautions but the fact that mps hotd _ taking precautions but the fact that mps hold surgeries in their constituencies on a regular basis and that— constituencies on a regular basis and that any of their constituents can come — and that any of their constituents can come and see them is in my view absolutely— can come and see them is in my view absolutely a — can come and see them is in my view absolutely a central part of the role and — absolutely a central part of the role and would not want to see that change _ role and would not want to see that chance. :, .., role and would not want to see that chance. :, , change. you said came up in the course of _ change. you said came up in the course of your— change. you said came up in the course of your meetings, - change. you said came up in the course of your meetings, was i change. you said came up in the course of your meetings, was a l change. you said came up in the i course of your meetings, was a prop to buy anything in particular or a general discussion? it to buy anything in particular or a general discussion?— general discussion? it like all mps i have general discussion? it like all mps i have regular— general discussion? it like all mps i have regular meetings _ general discussion? it like all mps i have regular meetings with - general discussion? it like all mps| i have regular meetings with police to talk— i have regular meetings with police to talk about issues affecting my constituency but ever since jo cox the police — constituency but ever since jo cox the police have been very aware of the police have been very aware of the potential risk to the safety of mps, _ the potential risk to the safety of mps, they're always very good in making _ mps, they're always very good in making sure we have any concerns that those — making sure we have any concerns that those are followed up and i'm afraid _ that those are followed up and i'm afraid every mps suffered from abuse oniine _ afraid every mps suffered from abuse online in— afraid every mps suffered from abuse online in some cases more than that. but i _ online in some cases more than that. but i know— online in some cases more than that. but i know that the speaker, today, said he _ but i know that the speaker, today, said he wants to have a review of security— said he wants to have a review of security of— said he wants to have a review of security of mps. the home secretary has asked _ security of mps. the home secretary has asked the police and there may be iessons — has asked the police and there may be lessons from this which we will need _ be lessons from this which we will need to— be lessons from this which we will need to learn. but what mps cannot do is shut— need to learn. but what mps cannot do is shut themselves away. and not be accessible for the people they represent. be accessible for the people they re-resent. :, _, ., ., , represent. your colleague had been sub'ected represent. your colleague had been subjected to — represent. your colleague had been subjected to some _ represent. your colleague had been subjected to some very _ represent. your colleague had been subjected to some very vile - represent. your colleague had been subjected to some very vile sexist l subjected to some very vile sexist verbal abuse on her may constituency as she was walking through it. she was not making a big thing of it but she brought it quite rightly to the police attention and to the public�*s attention. in some ways it is the oxygen of these things that people alert to them. we oxygen of these things that people alert to them-— alert to them. we are at a time when there is a lot — alert to them. we are at a time when there is a lot of _ alert to them. we are at a time when there is a lot of anger— alert to them. we are at a time when there is a lot of anger in the - there is a lot of anger in the country— there is a lot of anger in the country and i think all mps have suffered — country and i think all mps have suffered from certainly online a lot of abuse — suffered from certainly online a lot of abuse. and that is something that we need _ of abuse. and that is something that we need to— of abuse. and that is something that we need to take action against. the police _ we need to take action against. the police have — we need to take action against. the police have been good about this. we will disagree about things, but at the end _ will disagree about things, but at the end of— will disagree about things, but at the end of the day when all mps are doing _ the end of the day when all mps are doing their— the end of the day when all mps are doing their best to serve their constituents, and they don't deserve to be _ constituents, and they don't deserve to be treated this way. and obviously abuse can sometimes spill over into _ obviously abuse can sometimes spill over into worse as we have seen tragically— over into worse as we have seen tragically today. over into worse as we have seen tragically today-— over into worse as we have seen tragically today. john whittingdale, thank ou tragically today. john whittingdale, thank you very _ tragically today. john whittingdale, thank you very much _ tragically today. john whittingdale, thank you very much for _ tragically today. john whittingdale, thank you very much for being - tragically today. john whittingdale, thank you very much for being with | thank you very much for being with us. let us recap on the principal story today, the conservative mp sir david amess was stabbed to death this lunchtime at a constituency meeting at a church in essex. he was 69 and attacked as he met constituents midday. police arrived within minutes of being called and say he died at the scene despite efforts of paramedics, a 25—year—old man was arrested and is currently in custody after being detained at the church. 0n suspension of murder. a knife was also recovered from the scene. sir david had died from multiple stab wounds. the home secretary this evening asked all police forces to review their security with immediate effect. sir david had been an mp since 1983 where he was first elected for basil than answers really represented south and after boundary changes. he is the second serving mp to be killed while attending a surgery in the space of five years following the space of five years following the death of the labour mpjo cox. died the prime ministers described sir david as defined public servant, and one of the kindest, nicest most gentle people in politics. sir david was married, he had five children and was well known in his local community. tributes to him have been made from all sides of the political spectrum as our political correspondent reports. sir david amess, described today as a man who devoted his life to his constituents. an mp for almost 40 years, this was general election night in 1992. his victory signalled a surprise win forjohn major's conservatives. david andrew amess has been duly elected to serve as member for this constituency. he was known as highly accessible to constituents in southend, an energetic advocate for the area. will my right honourable friend tell one of his ministers to organise a city status competition so at long last southend—on—sea can become a city? those who knew him best have been left shocked. he was devoted to that constituency and he was always full of enthusiasm for things that were going on in southend, full of enthusiasm for parliament, full of life. it's just a horrible shock. his senseless killing follows a series of attacks on mps all in their constituencies. in 2000 nigeljones, a liberal democrat, attacked with a sword. his aide andrew pennington died. in 2010 the labour mp stephen timms suffered life—threatening injuries — stabbed in the stomach, he survived. and in 2016 labour'sjo cox murdered, shot and stabbed while out during the referendum campaign. her killing happened as the nation argued over brexit. many worry that political debates are becoming increasingly polarised and social media has fuelled the trend, among them jo cox's sister, now an mp herself. it's really important that we get good people in public life, - but this is the risk— that we are all taking, you know, and so many mps today will be scared by this, i and my partner came home and said, "i don't want you to do it anymore." i in recent years security around parliament has become intense. here mps are tightly protected but outside in their local areas they are vulnerable. sir david amess himself wrote after the attack on nigeljones, "we all make ourselves readily available to our constituents. "it could happen to any of us." i think more should have been learned from previous attacks and i suspect that the house authorities will now do a complete review of security for mps and peers and their staff. we need to do it for everybody who comes face—to—face with the general public. sir david leaves behind his wife and five children, and urgent questions. why are they now bereaved? why is more not being done to protect mps? sir david amess, who has died today at the age of 69. sir david was killed as he carried out his duties as an mp meeting his constituents to help with any issues that might have. this evening the home secretary has asked all police forces to review the security arrangements with immediate effect. so what can be done to protect mps as they do theirjob? whilst maintaining their accessibility for their constituency. philip is from their constituency. philip is from their constituency. philip is from the specialist security of form diffuse. thank you very much for coming back to talk to us again this evening. you are presumably not surprised that priti patel has ordered this review from police forces, but i suppose in light of some of the interviews that we have been hearing from others serving mps there's limits presumably to what can be done. lip there's limits presumably to what can be done-— there's limits presumably to what can be done. up first and foremost my thoughts _ can be done. up first and foremost my thoughts are — can be done. up first and foremost my thoughts are with _ can be done. up first and foremost my thoughts are with the - can be done. up first and foremost my thoughts are with the family, l my thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased. and i know it will be a devastating day for them. in relation to the question around priti patel and asking police to review security around politicians that's a fairly regular occurrence and it will be something that when i was running the team in parliament we would do pretty regularly. and that will really look at the committee of the security arrangements which all politicians are entitled to. and seeing whether it had that, and many of them have but some of them had chosen either not to have some of it or all of it, and equally some of them chose not to necessarily follow the advice given around how to keep themselves and their staff safe. i am conscious they have an awful lot of security available to them, and since i have left they have even increased that to include security guards at their actual constituency offices, but of course not all of them choose to have that. and there is various reasons for that. i think there is a great deal on offer but a lot of it is choice, not compulsory. and maybe one of the changes that might have to be made is that there is more pressure placed on mps to actually take all of the measures they have and to ensure that they follow the advice they are given. in and to ensure that they follow the advice they are given.— advice they are given. in your experience — advice they are given. in your experience is _ advice they are given. in your experience is that, _ advice they are given. in your experience is that, the - advice they are given. in your. experience is that, the obvious answer is this question, why don't they take the advice they have been given in your experience? are there reasons that are given for that because you know there's lots of different reasons. one size does not fit all and therefore there has to be a degree of flexibility. if you are an mp in a city urban environment we may well have a very fixed location for your constituency surgeries. if however you are in a more rural environment that may not be feasible. fiend more rural environment that may not be feasible. : :, more rural environment that may not be feasible-— be feasible. and therefore you may have to no be feasible. and therefore you may have to go to _ be feasible. and therefore you may have to go to meet _ be feasible. and therefore you may have to go to meet constituencies i be feasible. and therefore you may l have to go to meet constituencies at more localised and therefore may be in temporary venues or as i believe happens today a church or other venues. therefore sometimes those security arrangements that we would advise are not always practical. equally some others just feel it's not something i want to have, i remember an mp saying that's not what the public at so i'm not going to do it. people have their own particular reasons for it, but the advice is good advice, it is well it is researched and i would advise all the politicians out there to review, notjust the politicians out there to review, not just the the politicians out there to review, notjust the police but the politicians themselves to review what they are doing, what process and practices they are running their surgeries by because we know that their surgeries and localities around those surgeries of the most vulnerable place they are. i around those surgeries of the most vulnerable place they are.— vulnerable place they are. i don't know if you _ vulnerable place they are. i don't know if you are _ vulnerable place they are. i don't know if you are the _ vulnerable place they are. i don't know if you are the interview i i know if you are the interview i did about half an hour or so ago the former liberal democrats mp, his predecessor nigeljones had been attacked and a colleague murdered that day back in 2000, he said very conscious of it in cheltenham coming up conscious of it in cheltenham coming up surprising but he said we purposely redesigned the constituency office for a number of things, a desk between him and the constituents at all times we had some physical barrier if necessary. a side door that would allow him fast exit if he had to and all of his staff knew how to get hold of the police the quickest way to get local attention and presumably contact numbers or else the fact that it was already flagged up in something they were aware of. that sounds like, not what you're saying about mps that have to operate in different places, but in environments that something a pretty simple series of things to do that don't impede your relationship with the constituents but mightjust save you from injury or dare i say it from loss of life.— you from injury or dare i say it from loss of life. absolutely and as ou said from loss of life. absolutely and as you said everyone _ from loss of life. absolutely and as you said everyone is _ from loss of life. absolutely and as you said everyone is different i from loss of life. absolutely and as you said everyone is different and l you said everyone is different and the surgeries are different, that is fairly simple advice but not everyone would necessarily follow that advice. and equally some people, the very structure operating in may lead itself or lend itself for them to do that. it's not always possible. some things we have to think about moving there surgery to somewhere else where it can be better managed. but there's lots of areas where things can be done in terms of the sort of things to having a secure door, like saying you only allow people into your constituency meetings by appointment. don't want to have drop ins, you want to know who is coming and why they're coming. when they are coming. and then you can actually manage who is coming in and out of the building with the venue you are going to be meeting them in. rather than, as i understand it, allowing someone to just run into the surgery and run out again with free access. so it's a little bit more complex that it may seem and of course what we have to do with the police have to do is operate around the needs and desires of politicians and as your previous guests said the process that we operate in this country is by constituency mps who want to have and need to have that face—to—face contact with their constituents. the police have to work out a system in terms of keeping them safe whilst allowing them to continue doing that. otherwise politicians will not 0therwise politicians will not comply with any of the rules of the tried to put perspex screens up and all of that stuff because that's not how they want to operate. in 99.9% of the cases they don't need to. we need to have a proportionate response with the situation is. thank you very much, a fascinating insight into some of the thinking involved giving mps extra security. let's talk now to jackie smith the former home secretary who chairs the jo cox foundation set up in the wake of the murder of the yorkshire mp who was killed five years ago now. thank you very much for being with us. a day for summer reflection. both on david unless but also what has happened to him ? david amess. 0ur has happened to him ? david amess. our hearts go out to sir david's family and friends and constituency staff. this was a truly tragic event and it brings back terrible memories of course of what happened tojoe and therefore i think it is important for us to think about what we can do to of course improve the security of mps as you have been talking about, to recognise more widely that we need to make our public life safe for those who are elected to represent us. and that cannotjust be about physical security, it also has to be about the broader approach that we all take to respecting our elected representatives and to ensuring that they can carry out that role for us, make our democracy work while also being able to be safe. jo make our democracy work while also being able to be safe.— being able to be safe. jo cox's murder was — being able to be safe. jo cox's murder was the _ being able to be safe. jo cox's murder was the first _ being able to be safe. jo cox's murder was the first killing i being able to be safe. jo cox's murder was the first killing of| being able to be safe. jo cox'sl murder was the first killing of a sitting member of parliament since spencer was assassinated in 1812. over 100 spencer was assassinated in 1812. 0ver100 years that whatever problems they made a face outside of the irish issue a lot of them felt relatively safe and certainly not at risk of losing their life by doing theirjob. by being attacked by somebody. clearly a change withjo cox and we had had it incidents before, and terrible attack on your colleague stephen timms when he was knifed during a constituency event, the attack on nigeljones and andrew pennington being killed in cheltenham, but how much has that changed in a relatively short period of time? albeit still very rare, people pulse ox perception of risk? i think mps do understand the risk that they face. they also as philip was saying previously are very keen that they may maintain what is an important part of our democracy and system which is constituency mps being able to go out, meet their constituents, i think if i remember rightly you came onto the streets of greenwich with our campaign. you know how important that is to our democratic system, but i think my point is that needs to go even further than that. if we as a country want to have a properly functioning democracy where we had can raise issues, where we can disagree passionately, but we nevertheless our public servants and elected representatives can be safe taking part in that that we need to think more widely about the approach that we take to our politicians, the approach we take to public debates. i feel approach we take to public debates. ifeel sad approach we take to public debates. i feel sad that despite the work lots of people have done in the immediate aftermath of her death, we still face the situation where mps are abused and they face intimidation and violence, and as we have seen again so sadly today when it sometimes tips over into the tragic death of a member of parliamentjust doing theirjob and fulfilling what we needed for our democracy to work in this country. recently doing in the foundation and that's what we need to think carefully about. of course there are issues about physical and other security but we also need to think about the type of democracy we want to come to the type of behaviour that we want from all of us if we want to have a democracy where our elected representatives can live safely and go about their role in the way that we would want them to be able to. ~ ., , the way that we would want them to be able to. . .,, ., ~ the way that we would want them to be able to. . :,, ., ~ :, be able to. when i was talking to john whittingdale _ be able to. when i was talking to john whittingdale i _ be able to. when i was talking to john whittingdale i mentioned i be able to. when i was talking to i john whittingdale i mentioned that a conservative mp from north devon reported quite vile sexual verbal abuse and when she was walking through her local constituency high street. just a couple of weeks ago. the thing that people most think about in the context ofjo cox's death is social media and inevitably that debate will come up again about whether the kind of toxicity of some of the language on social media adds to a sense of the and greenness of people public attitudes, people's willingness to push the line that bit further in whatever reason they believed. is that still a persistent worry for you?— believed. is that still a persistent worry for you? when we talk to mps and other elected _ worry for you? when we talk to mps and other elected representatives i worry for you? when we talk to mps and other elected representatives in the foundation what worries us is or what worries me is that even since i was an mp i think the abuse, the intimidation has gotten worse. and part of that is related to social media. but as we heard it's also happening on the streets, and it happens in person as well. i think we need to take a broader approach in terms of saying we have disagree passionately about things as jo cox did frequently throughout her life but she also said was that we had more in common than divides us in a particular we have our humanity. i think we need to start thinking about our elected representatives again as the humans that they are doing a crucialjob and all of us need to reflect on our behaviour and what more we need to do to enable them to do that safely.— them to do that safely. where there are occasions _ them to do that safely. where there are occasions when _ them to do that safely. where there are occasions when you _ them to do that safely. where there are occasions when you were - them to do that safely. where there are occasions when you were giving | are occasions when you were giving constituency surgeries when you felt unease because of that i was reflecting on the fact that when it first started as an mp i sometimes used to go to some rural constituency surgeries on my own or perhaps with one other person. that situation has changed, i think it changed sadly whenjo cox died, it changed sadly whenjo cox died, it changed with the other tax and quite rightly mps and the house authorities in the home secretary are today reflecting on the risks that mps face and what security we need to put in place for them. this is a tragic personal loss for sir david's family but we have got to be really careful that it does not also become a loss in an even greater loss that we have already experienced for our democratic life in this country. because if we hold that dear we need people to feel safe going into it and need to ensure there is respect and safety for the people who are becoming our elected representatives. jackie smith, chair of thejo cox foundation, go to speak to you despite this. thank you very much for being with us tonight. medical colleagues have been paying tribute and exposing their shock and sadness at the news of his death. rishi sunak said the worst aspect also had reaction from other parts of the political divide. the former labour prime minister tony blair said he was shocked and horrified by the news. flags outside parliament are flying at half mast this evening, sir david who was 69 had been an mp since 1987 and before that an mp for bethel didn't come up both in essex. the speaker of the house of commons give his reaction to sir david's killing.— to sir david's killing. absolute shock. to sir david's killing. absolute shock- we _ to sir david's killing. absolute shock. we are _ to sir david's killing. absolute shock. we are all— to sir david's killing. absolute shock. we are all in _ to sir david's killing. absolute shock. we are all in shock. i to sir david's killing. absolute i shock. we are all in shock. david was a friend of everybody. whatever your political divide was david was friendly, he was a politician. that served his constituency. he was so well loved and of course our thoughts are with him, his family. the fact is his friends, everybody thought the best of david. and he has been taken away from us. i never, ever thought it would be in this position again. tragicallyjo cox blustar left, now david. he loved being an mp and representing the people. the fact is he has been killed because people don't value the job that he is doing. killed because people don't value thejob that he is doing. i have to say that everybody will be thinking about him. david has been taken from about him. david has been taken from a much respected and is a tragic loss to the house. as i say, all of our thoughts are with his family and friends. : , :, ,, ,._ friends. attribute from sir lindsay ho le. most of us have had a fine and sunny day. felt cooler and fresher but there has been lots of sunshine to go around. notice how things looked earlier in the day. this cooled out in the weather is only a brief one because as we go through the weekend milder atlanta gear will be pushing its way back in from the west and with that will come a boost to temperatures. today we had temperatures. today we had temperatures and arrange more or less around 11 to 14 celsius but those temperatures that arise. ledge and gets up to 17 degrees in glasgow going from about 11 to 15. turning increasingly mild. before we get there overnight and it will keep clear spells particularly across the northern and east. some areas of eastern england as well. temperatures will drop away and a cold night for these areas. cold enough for patches of frost in the countryside but the weather will start to turn a good deal milder later in the night in temperatures lifting to 12 in parts of the southwest. a cloudy start to the day with a few mist and fog patches around. nods bit of rain which will push northwards and eastwards across parts of northern england and to southern scotland as well. later on we'll see increasing amounts of sunshine, wales and southwest england becomes milderfor these england becomes milder for these areas. england becomes milderfor these areas. so relatively cool air hanging on in scotland for a little longer. saturday night sees weather fronts push eastwards, rain heaviest across scotland, northern ireland, northern england and patchy elsewhere. that ray will tend to is way quite quickly and quite a bit of cloud around and breaks in the cloud coming through as the day progresses and into the afternoon i think little bit drier and brighter as well. temperatures which in a high of 17 degrees in london and cardiff as well. low pressures from the in charge and look at this livelong weather front, just the hills of wales. localised flooding here with fairly large totals of rain but the other thing to notice is it turns very mild indeed. temperatures could reach 20 for a time in london. that's your latest weather. this is bbc news with the headlines. i'm shaun ley, the headlines eight p.m.... a british member of parliament, sir david amess, has been stabbed to death while meeting constituents at a church hall outside london. he was attacked with a knife multiple times as he met constituents at a local church on leigh—on—sea at lunchtime. he died at the scene. a 25—year—old man was arrested immediately at the scene on suspicion of murder. he remains in custody. a knife was also recovered at the scene. the prime minister has described sir david is one of the kindest people in politics. david is one of the kindest people in rolitics. ., david is one of the kindest people in rolitics. ~ ., :, ., , in politics. think all our hearts are in shock _ in politics. think all our hearts are in shock and _ in politics. think all our hearts are in shock and sadness i in politics. think all our hearts | are in shock and sadness today in politics. think all our hearts i are in shock and sadness today at the loss _ are in shock and sadness today at the loss of— are in shock and sadness today at the loss of sir david amos impey, who was— the loss of sir david amos impey, who was killed in the constituency surgery— who was killed in the constituency surgery in— who was killed in the constituency surgery in a church after