An MP has just been stabbed.

[Cactus1982]

Breaking news on Sky. David Amess MP has been stabbed ‘multiple times’. Feels like Jo Cox all over again, surely MPs need security around them? Some of the comments they receive on social media are off the scale. All parties as well. I can’t imagine a US Senator wandering around without security?

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

The only person to blame for what has happened is the man who did it does that only apply when Tories are stabbed, when the abhorrent murder of Jo Cox happened the entire right wing of politics and every person who voted Brexit was told they were in pet responsible

You're right - and that was equally wrong.

There is a problem in recent years - of increased intolerant tribalism, division, and hate. (Although my aunt's neighbours got a brick through their window back in the 80s for displaying a Conservative poster).

But. Human beings call other human beings childish names. It's as old as time.

The vast vast majority don't go around stabbing other people.

The only person responsible for what happened is the attacker.

Such horrible sad news today.

Sir David was an absolute credit to his local community. An amazing man. He regularly volunteered in the local schools and helped to empower young women. It is devastating that he has been killed doing his job.

Thoughts are with his family.

@ninnynonny

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk guidelines.

A man went to work doing the job his constituents elected him to do and was murdered, and this is you justifying and excusing it, utterly reprehensible.

Heartbreaking news. Whatever his views this man should have been to go to work safely and without fear.

My heart goes out to his family.

@Luckytattie

It must be awful for the family have the explode over Twitter. Imagine if they found out that way. God I really hope not

It wasn't on Twitter immediately. It took a while to become public.

Really awful. Essentially a man in public service,went to work. Didn’t come home. Murdered

Including, why are MPs seen as 'legitimate targets for abuse'.

We need to have a zero tolerance policy for personal attacks in the same way that is slowly being rolled out for football.

In the vein of the football comparison, politicians themselves need to learn to play the ball, not the person. That goes for them all, cos the personal attacks are one of the most off putting, unpleasant and alienating things in British politics. The media amply it too.

We just shouldn't be tolerating any of it.

We should be talking about issues instead.

—

Couldn’t agree more

How anyone can justify killing someone is unbelievable
We are allowed to hold different opinions , have different political ideas , different beliefs
You can disagree with someone , but nothing gives someone the right to take another's life
The name calling that people do is bad enough , even on here it happens if someone votes one way or the other people can become real nasty, if we were all the same life would be very different
People seem to not be able to respect others choices these days ,
But for now a family has lost a father , husband etc etc , maybe lets focus on this tragedy and pay respects to the family and the poor man who has died .

FFS, nobody is a legitimate target for murder.

@VeryLongBeeeeep

Holding different political views or having a different opinion on a particular issue does not, ever, justify violence or death threats. Play the ball, not the man. We're supposed to be a democracy; if you disagree about something then debate it and agree to disagree if necessary.

This is a sad day. Thinking of his family, friends and loved ones.

This. So tired of political disagreements being used as justification for violence and threats. I wish we lived in a world where people weren't so alienated from each and so polarised to the point where they dehumanise those they disagree with.

I just saw the update. Your political standing in the UK should not be a reason for someone to murder you, regardless of your own views.

RIP

Is anyone actually blaming Angela Raynor? I don't think they are. Quite clearly the only person to blame is the man who has been arrested, and if he is found guilty in court, I hope he goes to prison for a very long time indeed.

However, we're all well aware that there are people out there who have extreme views. When you have the DEPUTY LEADER of the Labour party talking only a couple of weeks ago about "Tory scum" and then refusing the retract her words or apologise, then that will be taken as fuel to the fire of the extremist. That woman's words were completely irresponsible and inflammatory, and to not even have the common decency to her colleagues to retract them... words fail me.

I would not be an MP for all the money in the world. It's about the only occupation that it seems to be socially acceptable to be completely vile about. Abuse on Twitter, threats in the post - there was an MP's relative who used to post on here who posted eloquently about how her kids weren't allowed to answer the house phone and how they had panic buttons in the house. So toxic.

Thoughts with the Amess family, and all of this poor man's friends and colleagues.

@ninnynonny

Not in any way trying to score cheap political points, just commenting on what COULD have happened. I knew this would be the reaction.

He is not even cold yet. You are utterly disgusting

• ncluding, why are MPs seen as 'legitimate targets for abuse'.

We need to have a zero tolerance policy for personal attacks in the same way that is slowly being rolled out for football.

In the vein of the football comparison, politicians themselves need to learn to play the ball, not the person. That goes for them all, cos the personal attacks are one of the most off putting, unpleasant and alienating things in British politics. The media amply it too.

We just shouldn't be tolerating any of it.

We should be talking about issues instead.*

Completely agree.

poor poor man, what a tragic & totally unnecessary loss of life
Just shocking. His poor family...
RIP David

@Ostryga

Heartbreaking news. Whatever his views this man should have been to go to work safely and without fear.

My heart goes out to his family.

I think this is one of the things. The fear of this happening because of online abuse has (past tense) led to numerous MPs leaving politics (particularly women it must be added).

This has meant that there has been a loss of really good people of all colours to public service.

I know for a fact that abuse was one of the things that lead to a previous MP in my constituency leaving politics. He was fed up of his wife getting grief because of his job and dog shit being put through his letterbox to name two specific things I know mentioned.

The fact we have another dead MP means it will deter many from public duty.

What will be very hard for Jo Cox's family will be seeing the same conversations being had that were going on just 5 years ago, and a sense that things have only got worse not better.

And I worry about how there will be a backlash against those who have made unwise remarks. It doesn't help resolve the problem of toxic politics.

I really feel for the family concerned. Being the family of an MP comes with a LOT of sacrifice. People talk about the perks all the time, but there isn't a huge amount said about the hours, the time away from family, the lack of job security for many and the abuse and risk.

We should be having that conversation, and frankly valuing public servants more. Even if we dislike their politics because of what they do in constituencies which is often invaluable and rarely applauded when it should be.

@AlexaShutUp

FFS, nobody is a legitimate target for murder.

This.

MP, or general public.

The problem is not playground name calling.

The problem is the stabbing epidemic (this same week, a teenage refugee was stabbed to death in front of schoolchildren in London).

Omg how horrific RIP… his poor family…

@KingsleyShacklebolt

Is anyone actually blaming Angela Raynor? I don't think they are. Quite clearly the only person to blame is the man who has been arrested, and if he is found guilty in court, I hope he goes to prison for a very long time indeed.

However, we're all well aware that there are people out there who have extreme views. When you have the DEPUTY LEADER of the Labour party talking only a couple of weeks ago about "Tory scum" and then refusing the retract her words or apologise, then that will be taken as fuel to the fire of the extremist. That woman's words were completely irresponsible and inflammatory, and to not even have the common decency to her colleagues to retract them... words fail me.

I would not be an MP for all the money in the world. It's about the only occupation that it seems to be socially acceptable to be completely vile about. Abuse on Twitter, threats in the post - there was an MP's relative who used to post on here who posted eloquently about how her kids weren't allowed to answer the house phone and how they had panic buttons in the house. So toxic.

Thoughts with the Amess family, and all of this poor man's friends and colleagues.

Absolutely this.

@Blossomtoes

People are so vicious about Tories. Vicious.

What about the Tory who wanted to kill Annalise Dodds? That wasn’t vicious, I suppose? And the nutter who killed Jo Cox? Nothing vicious about him. 🙄

OMG. James Gray made a stupid "joke" which was tasteless. It wasn't made in public but it was subsequently made public - but not by him. He apologised immediately and deleted the post. He never advocated killing her. That's like saying, "My husband keeps leaving the top off the toothpaste. I could kill him." And saying the wife made a death threat. Thomas Mair wasn't a Conservative. He was an extreme right winger with mental health problems.

This situation is so tragic. Can we not pay our respects for today and then people can politicise it another day?

@KingsleyShacklebolt

Is anyone actually blaming Angela Raynor? I don't think they are. Quite clearly the only person to blame is the man who has been arrested, and if he is found guilty in court, I hope he goes to prison for a very long time indeed.

However, we're all well aware that there are people out there who have extreme views. When you have the DEPUTY LEADER of the Labour party talking only a couple of weeks ago about "Tory scum" and then refusing the retract her words or apologise, then that will be taken as fuel to the fire of the extremist. That woman's words were completely irresponsible and inflammatory, and to not even have the common decency to her colleagues to retract them... words fail me.

I would not be an MP for all the money in the world. It's about the only occupation that it seems to be socially acceptable to be completely vile about. Abuse on Twitter, threats in the post - there was an MP's relative who used to post on here who posted eloquently about how her kids weren't allowed to answer the house phone and how they had panic buttons in the house. So toxic.

Thoughts with the Amess family, and all of this poor man's friends and colleagues.

I agree

Including, why are MPs seen as 'legitimate targets for abuse'.

Also voters.

@Jaysmith71

There are times when you should let go of whatever bees you have in your bonnet and show some respect.

^ This. Many of the early posts on this thread before it was known he had died are absolutely awful. Regardless of his views and voting record, he was an elected MP and he has been killed while, and probably because, he was doing his job as a public servant. Show some respect and if (god forbid) something similar should ever happen again, before hitting post try and imagine how your post will look if the person you are slagging off should die.

Awful, awful news. I am so sorry for his family and colleagues.

MPs are elected to serve all their constituents regardless of whether they voted for them or not. By all accounts, this man did so with diligence, kindness and humour. This is so sad. What is wrong with people? He was just doing his job. Why is it acceptable to abuse public servants and make their life hell? I’m so sorry for his family. RIP.

Absolutely horrendous