This month’s update is written after the recent tragic death of my friend and fellow Essex MP, Sir David Amess. I pay tribute below to Sir David as well as to James Brokenshire, who also had strong links to Essex and who sadly lost his long battle with cancer this month. I would like to thank the many constituents who have recently been in touch to express their condolences.
The circumstances of Sir David’s death rightfully provoked many discussions amongst colleagues as well as in the media about MPs’ safety and the level of online abuse that many receive. Some have suggested that MPs should no longer hold constituency surgeries given there have now been four separate attacks carried out on MPs while holding them. However, I believe that it is a vital part of our democracy that MPs should remain accessible to constituents and that this direct link is one of the great strengths of our system.
On that basis, whilst I have consulted with the House authorities and the Police about security arrangements and ensuring all protocols are rightly followed, I will continue to carry out advice surgeries so that constituents can meet me face to face. Any dilution of that link between elector and elected representative would be deeply damaging to our democracy and would only be welcomed by those who seek to remove our hard-fought freedoms.
Sir David Amess MP
I was deeply shocked by the news of my friend and colleague, Sir David Amess’ death, who was very sadly killed on 15 October whilst conducting an advice surgery. Sir David will be greatly missed by his colleagues, friends and family. A diligent and committed MP, as well as a proud ‘Essex Man’, Sir David’s loss will be felt by his constituents and many across Essex.
It was very fitting that the Prime Minister announced to the House that the Queen had agreed to grant Southend city status; a cause that Sir David raised on countless occasions in the chamber.
James Brokenshire MP
My thoughts are also with the family of James Brokenshire, who sadly died of cancer on 7 October. A gentle and good-natured minister, James was well regarded by all sides of the House. Whilst he had served in various ministerial roles and had been Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and later Housing, Communities and Local Government, his death sadly cuts short a career that still held great promise.
