London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Monday, Aug 04, 2025

British lawmaker David Amess stabbed to death at constituency meeting

British lawmaker David Amess stabbed to death at constituency meeting

British lawmaker David Amess, a member of Boris Johnson's ruling Conservative Party, has died after being stabbed several times at a constituency meeting east of London.

Amess, 69, a Member of Parliament who represented Southend West in Essex, was attacked at around midday Friday by a man who walked into a meeting with voters from his electoral district being held in a Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea.

"He was treated by emergency services but, sadly, died at the scene," Essex police said.

"A 25-year-old man was quickly arrested after officers arrived at the scene on suspicion of murder and a knife was recovered."

The UK's Counter Terrorism Command will lead the investigation into the murder, police said later Friday. "It will be for investigators to determine whether or not this is a terrorist incident. But as always, they will keep an open mind," Ben-Julian Harrington, Chief Constable of Essex Police, told reporters.

The killing was another grim moment in Britain's political history. It marks the second murder of a sitting British lawmaker in five years, after Labour MP Jo Cox was killed in her constituency in 2016, and has reignited discussions about the safety of the UK's elected officials.

The country's political, religious and societal leaders, and its royal family, all condemned the attack and paid tribute to Amess.

Those who knew him described Amess as a dedicated local representative, deeply embedded within his community and disinterested in the careerism of national politics.

Boris Johnson was joined by all of his living predecessors in expressing shock, and lawmakers from every corner of the political spectrum spoke of their sadness, their concern, and their anger after another of their colleagues was killed while meeting with his constituents.

"We are shocked and saddened by the murder of Sir David Amess, who dedicated 40 years of his life to serving his community," William and Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and colleagues."

Emergency services at the scene near the Belfairs Methodist Church, where David Amess was stabbed in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

Police at the scene near the church in Eastwood Road.


'A terrible day for democracy'


Aerial footage showed multiple police officers outside the church and an air ambulance at the scene. A large cordon extended down Eastwood Road, where the church is located, with members of the public gathering behind it and multiple side streets closed off.

Once it became clear Amess was the stabbing victim -- and shortly after, that he had died -- Britain's political establishment united in grief. In a statement from Downing Street, Boris Johnson said from Downing Street the MP "was one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics."

"David was a man who believed passionately in this country and in its future," Johnson said. "We lost today a fine public servant."

The leader of the main opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, wrote on Twitter: "Horrific and deeply shocking news. Thinking of David, his family and his staff."

Former Prime Minister David Cameron said Amess was "a kind and thoroughly decent man" and "the most committed MP you could ever hope to meet."

"Words cannot adequately express the horror of what has happened today. Right now, my heart goes out to David's family," Cameron said. Cameron's successor Theresa May added the news was "heartbreaking" and "a tragic day for our democracy."

She described Amess as "a decent man and respected parliamentarian, killed in his own community while carrying out his public duties."


And former Labour leader Tony Blair said in a statement to PA Media: "David and I came into Parliament together in 1983. Though on opposite political sides
I always found him a courteous, decent and thoroughly likeable colleague who was respected across the House."

"This is a terrible and sad day for our democracy," Blair said.

Flags outside Parliament were lowered to half staff after his death.

Labour London Mayor Sadiq Khan called Amess "a great public servant" who "loved being an MP." Sajid Javid, the UK's Health Secretary, called him "a great man, a great friend, and a great MP killed while fulfilling his democratic role."

Amess entered Parliament in 1983, initially representing the Basildon constituency. He served continuously in the House of Commons since then, making him one of the longest-serving lawmakers in the chamber.

Amess was knighted in 2015 for his political service. He supported Britain's departure from the European Union, and his main areas of expertise were animal welfare and pro-life issues, according to a biography on his website.

In March, Amess asked a question in Parliament about how to stop "senseless murders" with knives, after a teenager in his constituency was killed in a knife attack.

He was married and had five children.

Britain's second murdered lawmaker in five years


Within Britain's political bubble and beyond, the murder dredged up painful memories of the shocking killing of Jo Cox five years ago.

That incident rattled the nation and led to calls for lawmakers to receive personal protection when in public -- a sentiment that re-emerged Friday following Amess' death.

"All elected representatives must be able to go about their work without the fear of physical or verbal attacks," Amess' colleague, Conservative MP Eleanor Laing, said in a tweet on Friday following the stabbing. "What has happened to Sir David Amess in Essex today is unforgivable."

Amess was not considered a controversial politician, and despite the length of his tenure, he was not a widely known political figure in the UK.

In a book he wrote last year about being an MP, Amess said Cox's murder was "totally unexpected" and the event had changed the way MPs interact with members of the public, particularly in relation to constituency surgeries.

"These increasing attacks have rather spoilt the great British tradition of the people openly meeting their elected politicians," he wrote.

"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," Amess added.

MPs in Britain typically meet with residents in their constituencies face to face during "surgeries," and it is uncommon for them to have a security detail.

Home Secretary Priti Patel tweeted Friday questions were "being rightly asked" about the safety of lawmakers, adding she "will provide updates in due course."

"This is an incident that will send shockwaves across the parliamentary community and the whole country," the Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle said in a statement sent to CNN. "In the coming days we will need to discuss and examine MPs' security and any measures to be taken, but for now, our thoughts and prayers are with David's family, friends and colleagues."

In 2010, Stephen Timms was stabbed during a constituency meeting by a 21-year-old student, who was angry over Timms' previous support of the Iraq War.

Timms survived the attack and is still a lawmaker. And in 2000, a Liberal Democrat councilor was murdered at the office of MP Nigel Jones.

Cox's widower, Brendan Cox, wrote the news "brings everything back."

"My thoughts and love are with David's family. They are all that matter now. This brings everything back. The pain, the loss, but also how much love the public gave us following the loss of Jo I hope we can do the same for David now," he said on Twitter.

Cox was killed by a man with extreme right-wing views, just days before the UK's heated referendum on leaving the European Union. That campaign and its fallout raised the temperature of political discourse in the country, and several politicians have since spoken about receiving abuse in person and online.

"This angry, violent behaviour cannot be tolerated in politics or any other walk of life," Iain Duncan Smith, a former leader of Amess' Conservative Party, said after his stabbing.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
×