Sir David Amess: Yorkshire Coast MPs pay tribute following death

Sir David Amess died earlier today after being stabbed

Author: Seb CheerPublished 15th Oct 2021
Last updated 15th Oct 2021

Yorkshire Coast politicians have been paying tribute to Conservative MP Sir David Amess, who has died after being stabbed in his constituency in Essex.

The 69-year-old victim, who has been an MP since 1983, was fatally injured at a surgery meeting in his Southend constituency at midday on Friday.

The father-of-five is the second sitting MP to be killed in such circumstances in five years, following the death of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016 as she attended a constituency surgery.

Tributes have been paid across the political spectrum, including from those on the Yorkshire Coast.

"A man who really believed in serving his constituents."

Scarborough and Whitby's MP, Robert Goodwill, has paid tribute. While working in his constituency, he told Hits Radio: "It's absolutely appalling news, and exposes just how vulnerable those of us in public life can be. David was a very good friend of mine. In fact, quite recently we did some recording together.

"I just can't express how sad and upset everybody is. I know David was a man of great religious faith, and a man who really believed in serving his constituents, so the world is much the poorer for the loss of David and I'm absolutely devastated, and sorry to hear the terrible news."

Thirsk, Malton and Filey's MPs, Kevin Hollinrake, has described Sir David on Twitter as 'one of the great veterans.' Speaking to Hits Radio, he added: "I'm just very very sad to lose such a great person. A great veteran of British politics and a really great bloke.

"He was in politics for 30 years and it's such a tragic, needless loss of a great human being. He's one of those people in politics who absolutely wanted to go into it for the right reasons, and wanted to make this country a better place. It's so tragic that his life's been taken in this way."

Sir Greg Knight MP, who represents East Yorkshire, says Sir David was 'always cheerful and ready to be helpful.'

The Archbishop of York says he knew Sir David was a friend, and posting on Twitter, described him as 'someone so dedicated to his community and public service.'

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