'MPs still aren't safe' Five years on from the murder of Sir David Amess
MP Sir David Amess was killed five years ago. As we look back at his legacy, his daughter tells us that MPs still aren't safe
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the death of Sir David Amess who was murdered while holding a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea. As we look back at the legacy he left and the changes that have happened since his death, we speak to his daughter Katie who tells us that "Members of Parliament still aren't safe".
Sir David was a Member of Parliament for 38 years, serving Basildon from 1983 until 1997, when he switched to serving the constituency of Southend West.
The MP was murdered by Ali Harbi Ali in 2021, but his legacy continues, both in his actions during a long career and the effect his murder had on the safety of MPs, something his daughter says is still lacking.
Sir David Amess: a "source of light and love in the world"
Sir David's daughter, Katie Amess, spoke to us ahead of the anniversary of his death and described him as a "source of light and love in the world", encouraging more MPs to be like her dad.
"His legacy is going to be the thousands of people that he helped and how he touched people's lives.
"All of the other Members of Parliament who are sitting now can use him as a frame of reference as to what a good constituency MP is, that goes into politics for the right reasons.
"Not to climb up the ladder and get ministerial positions and do what they can for themselves.
"It will be that Sir David Amess was a beacon of light and strength and he stayed true to his roots.
"We would do very well to remember him that way."
Katie also told us that she'd never stop fighting for answers into her father's death.
The death of Anne Widdecombe, a close friend to Sir David, shows 'nothing has changed'
When the funeral procession and memorial service took place in Southend in November 2021, family statement was read by former MP Ann Widdecombe.
She said: "It is so important to remember how he lived and what he fought for, rather than to remember how he died."
But five years on, Sir David Amess' daughter says nothing has changed to improve the safety of MPs and former MPs five years since her dad's death, and the death of Ann Widdecombe shows that:
"They just want to say, 'It's five years later, everything has been sorted, that wouldn't happen today'. But then we go on to see my dad's best friend, Aunt Ann, Ann Widdicombe killed just a couple of months ago."
"Members of Parliament still aren't safe. It's taken me five years to get this far, but it could take me another 55 years and I will still be here asking these questions."
A spokesperson for the Home Office said:
“Sir David Amess’s murder was an awful tragedy, and our thoughts continue to be with his family and friends.
“Alongside the police, we work closely with the Parliamentary Security Department to provide support to MPs. The Home Secretary has also commissioned a further review of lessons from Sir David’s murder to identify improvements to security arrangements for MPs working in their constituencies.”
Adaptations made for the MP who took over from David Amess
Anna Firth took over the role as MP for Southend West and Leigh from Sir David Amess.
She told us that new measures were in put place as she held constituency surgeries after becoming Southend MP.
"I took David as my role model and I was determined that there wouldn't be any diminution of service as a result of what had happened.
"Of course you have to have heed to your safety, it's only responsible, but there is lots of advice now from Parliament. There's advice from the police. I had someone sitting outside the door at my constituency surgeries.
"People weren't allowed to come and see me unless they had already been checked.
"The actual building in which I held the surgeries, quite a lot of safety adaptions were made. The front door had a see through panel, so that you could see who the person was. There was a panic button in the room. But most importantly I think there was a security officer so everyone that came through to see me the security officer did actually do a check, make sure there was nothing in their bag."
Anna Firth said Sir David exemplified the best of what MPs can achieve.
"He was a legend. He was a fantastic MP. He is what every constituency MP should be like and the longer that legacy lasts the better."
The current MP for Southend West and Leigh, David Burton-Sampson, said Sir David was able to resonate with local people.
"When I am on the doorstep, many people say to me, 'I knew Sir David Amess'. Did they really know him? Probably not, but they felt like they knew him because that's what Sir David created."
"The fact that we are now a city here in Southend is something that Sir David talked about, persistently for many, many years. And here we are, we are now a city.
"We are a city and that's in his memory. It is his legacy."
Southend was granted city status in March 2022. In the city there is a tree planted in his memory, busses with his name, an electric train for Southend Pier named after him, and a statue of him in Chalkwell.
There is also a shield of arms dedicated to Sir David in the House of Commons.
Ultimately, Katie Amess told us that while he helped thousands of people, for her, Sir David was a brilliant dad.
"My dad was just absolutely amazing. He was so full of life and so funny."
There will be memorial events today in Southend to remember Sir David Amess.