Newspaper headlines: MP safety review and terror cops probe death

3 years ago 52

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By BBC News
Staff

Image caption, The death of Southend West MP Sir David Amess, who was stabbed multiple times at his constituency surgery, leads a sombre set of front pages. "He died serving the people", is the Daily Mirror's headline, as it draws comparisons to the murder of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016.

Image caption, "A fine public servant" is the strap on the front of the Daily Telegraph. The paper says a 25-year-old British man of Somali origin has been arrested on suspicion of murder. A piece written by Conservative grandee Michael Portillo says that Sir David's "dependability proved to be his vulnerability". Portillo describes his friend as a "very devoted constituency MP".

Image caption, The Times has a smiling picture of Sir David with two pugs. The MP was known as an animal lover and keen supporter of animal welfare, the paper says. Counter-terrorism police are investigating possible Islamist links to the "frenzied attack", the Times reports.

Image caption, "Horror in broad daylight", is the Guardian's headline. It quotes Boris Johnson describing Sir David Amess as "one of the kindest, nicest and most gentle people in politics".

Image caption, The Daily Mail paints a picture of the Tory MP as a family man, with a picture of him smiling as he gives one of his four daughters away at her wedding weeks ago. The paper says counter-terrorism officers and MI5 are probing whether there is a terror link to the attack.

Image caption, The Daily Express describes Sir David as a "kind and gentle" politician. It says he was stabbed to death in front of horrified onlookers as he held his regular constituency surgery in a church.

Image caption, The i weekend edition carries a picture of Sir David, as well as police officers at the scene. Its headline is "Killed serving the people". It says British politics is in "mourning" and the community is in shock.

Image caption, The Sun also carries a picture of Sir David holding a dog in front of Big Ben. It says counter-terrorism police and MI5 are investigating whether the man arrested over the killing was influenced by terrorism.

Image caption, The Financial Times says the killing of the veteran MP has raised "new fears for the safety of politicians" and Home Secretary Priti Patel has ordered a security review following the death of her fellow Essex MP.

Image caption, "How could it happen again?" asks the Daily Star, as it also carries a smiling picture of Sir David with a dog. It describes him as a campaigning MP.

The news that the killing of MP Sir David Amess is being treated as a terrorist incident broke too late for most of the papers - but the attack at his constituency surgery in Essex dominates the front pages.

The front page of the Daily Mail features a picture of Sir David at his daughter's wedding in August. His murder, says the Mail, is another assault on democracy.

Image source, PA Media

Image caption, The killing of Sir David Amess features on the front pages of all the morning's papers

The Star - reminding readers about the killing five years ago of Labour MP Jo Cox - asks "How Could It Happen Again?"

The Financial Times says the stabbing raises fresh concerns about the safety of politicians. It quotes the speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who said it would send "shockwaves" across the parliamentary community.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Michael Portillo describes Sir David, his former parliamentary private secretary, as a "devoted constituency MP" who's "dependability has proved to be his vulnerability".

He says Sir David would never have considered changing his routine despite knowing there was a risk to his safety.

The Times says that in his book published last year, Sir David revealed he'd been advised not to see constituents alone and had improved security at his home.

The paper's columnist, Matthew Parris, believes the killing threatens the face-to-face meetings that constituency MPs cherish most.

As well as mourning their former colleague, politicians, he believes, will be mourning a "loss of confidence in the future of the impromptu, informal, direct, unguarded and weekly contact with the people they are there for".

Image source, PA Media

Image caption, Sir David Amess was known as an animal welfare campaigner and pictures of him with four-legged friends appear on many front pages

The Sun says such sessions "provide a vital connection between voters and their MPs" but adds that "it's sadly evident, they can't continue without watertight security measures".

Writing in the New Statesman, Anoosh Chakelian, says the death of Sir David - and the threats to all MPs - "show we must change the way we do politics".

She says the use of "inflammatory language", such as "betrayal", "traitors" and "enemies of the people", have "real life consequences".

Isabel Hardman writes in the Spectator that there has been a "normalisation" of hatred towards MPs that makes the "dangerous stuff seem inevitable". She says "people considering going into politics" must also consider that they have "a risk of being killed".

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