DORSET MPs have urged for more protection for politicians in public roles following the death of Sir David Amess last week.

The veteran backbencher was fatally stabbed whilst at a public surgery at the Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea on Friday, October 15.

Christchurch MP Sir Chris Chope has paid tribute to his close friend and colleague.

He said: “David and I were first elected in 1983 so with his passing, there are only five of us left in parliament who were elected back then.

“We were good mates and he and I shared a love and appreciation for Margaret Thatcher.

“I want to say how sorry I am for to his wife and family and the two party assistants that were there at the time. The whole thing is so sad.”

When asked whether face-to-face meetings should be temporarily stopped or continued, Mr Chope said “I am very much in the latter category”.

“We should carry on and not be intimidated by this incident. It is what he would have wanted

.”

Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood has also praised Sir David as a “wonderfully encouraging and compassionate man” who was one of the first MPs he met when he became an MP in 2005.

The former soldier was hailed as a hero in 2017 when, outside Parliament, he gave CPR to police officer Keith Palmer, who had been stabbed in a terrorist incident.

Mr Ellwood said he stood by his comments made shortly after the incident – that face-to-face meetings between MPs and their constituents should be temporarily paused while more robust safety measures were established.

“This individual was known to the authorities and was on the watch list,” he said. “It is a reminder that extremism still grows in this country and our sudden withdrawal from Afghanistan has played a part in that.

“One of the key messages is the total commitment from both sides that the openness and the acceptability of MPs must be upheld. It is a hallmark of British politics and something that you don’t really see anywhere else in the world. However, this tragic incident does raise questions about how you keep MPs and members of the public safe.”