“We have all lost a friend and Parliament has lost a fine man”. Theresa May pays tribute to Sir David Amess
2 min read
I cannot imagine the House of Commons without David Amess. For as long as I have been in the House David has been a presence in the Chamber, making us laugh, challenging governments on the issues he cared about and always, always a champion of his constituency.
David was an accomplished parliamentarian and a consummate and caring constituency MP. He was respected across the House and admired for his passionate advocacy of the issues he cared about, and he was admired and loved in his constituency.
He was a lovely man and an integral part of his local community, always believing that his job was first and foremost to be at the side of his constituents. How tragic it was that it was while he was doing his job among his constituents that he lost his life. But how fitting that his last acts were acts of service to his community.
I was always ready for the reference to Southend and the request to make Southend a city
I can’t remember a conversation with David that didn’t end in laughter. The word that comes to my mind when thinking about him is fizzing – fizzing with ideas, fizzing with the love of life, fizzing with the passion for improving the lives of others. In all this of course he was sustained by his wife Julia and his family and my thoughts and prayers are with them at this very difficult time. A devout Roman Catholic, he was also sustained by his faith.
When I was Shadow Leader of the House, I could always bank on David attending the recess adjournment debate and speaking about issues affecting Southend. Then when I was Prime Minister when David stood to ask a question, I was always ready for the reference to Southend and the request to make Southend a city. What a fitting tribute its change in status will be. We have all lost a friend and Parliament has lost a fine man, a first-class parliamentarian and a devoted constituency MP.
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