Conservative MP Sir David Amess stabbed multiple times in incident at constituency surgery

A Conservative MP has been stabbed multiple times in an incident at his constituency surgery and a man has been arrested.

Sir David Amess, who represents Southend West in Essex, was attacked on Friday afternoon at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea.

UPDATE: MP David Amess has died after stabbing, police say

Live updates: Man arrested on suspicion of murder

Sky News understands a man walked into his constituency surgery and stabbed him multiple times.

It is believed Mr Amess, 69, has been receiving treatment at the scene for his injuries, with a local Conservative Party source telling Sky News that an air ambulance is at the scene.

His condition is unclear, Sky News political correspondent Joe Pike reports.

"He was stabbed several times," Local councillor John Lamb told Reuters.

"We're not sure how serious it is but it's not looking good."

A spokesman for his Westminster office said: "The incident has happened. I don't know what the incident is. We are still waiting."

Image: Armed police at the scene. Pic: Anthony Fitch

Sir David has been MP for Southend West since 1997 and first entered parliament in 1983.

Essex Police said in a statement: "We were called to reports of a stabbing in Eastwood Road North, #LeighonSea shortly after 12.05pm today.

"Officers were on scene shortly after, arrested a man and recovered a knife. He is currently in custody.

"We are not looking for anyone else in connection with the incident and do not believe there is an ongoing threat to the wider public.

"We want to thank the public who alerted us to the incident so quickly."

Image: Emergency services at the scene. Pics: @LeeJordo1

Eyewitness Anthony Finch told Sky News the incident was "devastating to witness", adding the MP has yet to leave the building and medics are continuing to "fight for his life".

Judith Canham, the deputy chair of the local Conservative club in Sir David's constituency, said she was told he had been "stabbed three times".

Analysis by Sam Coates, deputy political editor Friday is the day MPs around the country tend to hold surgeries to meet constituents.The aim is to listen to their concerns and offer support where possible. These meetings normally take place in locations like church or community halls. The MP will often have just one member of staff alongside them. Most surgeries are publicly advertised, as was the case with the one hosted by Sir David today, and do not require prior booking, so the MP holding the session does not necessarily know who could come through the door. Many who do are, by definition, looking for help, and some can be quite angry. MPs I have spoken to this afternoon say those situations can, as a result, feel quite threatening. The person sitting opposite can view the local MP as personally responsible for the situation the constituent finds themself in. This latest attack on an MP will no doubt raise a fresh debate about security, like the one that followed the tragic murder of Jo Cox during the Brexit referendum in 2016. Questions will be raised about the system that exists and whether sufficient security consideration is given to parliamentarians when they carry out this important function for their constituents. Some MPs tell me there was a noticeable increase in consideration of security following the murder of Jo Cox - one said the police would come and ask him in advance where his surgeries were taking place - but that level of attention has since tailed off.

An employee of Jean's Laundry, near the church, said she did not know anything about the incident but had seen emergency service vehicles go by.

"We just saw all the police and the ambulances turning up, it was probably about half past 12 or just before then," she told the Press Association.

"I saw about two or three ambulances and then an undercover police car and other police cars going past.

My next constituency surgery will be taking place on Friday 15th October at Belfairs Methodist Church, 251 Eastwood Road North, Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 4NG.

To book an appointment please email [email protected] or call 020 7219 3452 pic.twitter.com/aHhxWPrXXi — Sir David Amess MP (@amessd_southend) October 12, 2021

"There's usually people walking past, elderly people walking to the shops. We've still got no idea what's going on, we're not very busy on a Friday and no one has come in to talk to us about it."

Brendan Cox, widower of the late Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered in an attack in 2016, said the stabbing was "as cowardly as it gets".

He tweeted: "Attacking our elected representatives is an attack on democracy itself. There is no excuse, no justification. It is as cowardly as it gets."

MPs and politicians from all parties have reacted with shock to the news.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: "Horrific and deeply shocking news. Thinking of David, his family and his staff."

Very alarming and worrying news reports coming from Leigh-on-Sea. My thoughts and prayers are with Sir David Amess and his family. — David Cameron (@David_Cameron) October 15, 2021

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant wrote on Twitter: "David Amess is one of the most lovely, uncontentious, caring MPs in Parliament. This is just awful."

"This is truly awful news," SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said.

"My thoughts and prayers are with David and his family."

Former prime minister David Cameron said: "Very alarming and worrying news reports coming from Leigh-on-Sea. My thoughts and prayers are with Sir David Amess and his family."