Philip Dunne MP spoke on BBC Radio Shropshire this morning of his profound sorrow following the murder of his colleague, Sir Davis Amess MP.

Sir David was killed on Friday while undertaking a regular constituency advice surgery. He had first entered the House of Commons in 1983, initially representing Basildon until 1997, and then as MP for Southend West. 

Mr Dunne said:

“Having taken some time to reflect over the weekend, I can say only that the tragic murder of Sir David Amess MP, is a devastating blow to all who knew him. That his life was taken while he was doing his job as a conscientious constituency MP, was an assault on us all, and in particular on the open democracy which we are proud to practice in this country.

“This is an utterly devastating event for the Amess family and the body politic. He was a good and decent man, in politics for all the right reasons.

“I know he would not want the tragic circumstances of his death to deflect or deter us from doing our jobs as MPs, nor break the bond that we gain from being readily accessible to our constituents.

“The House of Commons today pays tribute to Sir David, where I hope to offer a few short remarks.”