United Kingdom: MEPs pay tribute to David Amess between gravity and humor
The House of Commons of the British Parliament, during the tribute to MP David Amess, October 18, 2021, in London.
© British Parliament, Jessica Taylor, via R
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
British parliamentarians on Monday October 18 greeted the memory of their colleague, David Amess, stabbed to death on Friday October 15 in a church where he was on duty as a member of Parliament.
Most of the debates scheduled in Westminster Parliament in the afternoon have been postponed and replaced with tributes to the 69-year-old Tory elected.
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With our correspondent in London,
Claire Digiacomi
A minute of silence, and a place left empty on the Conservative bench where David Amess usually sat.
MPs paid tribute for nearly two hours to this
elected official who had sat in Westminster since 1983
.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson opened the discussion: “
David Amess was snatched from us in a despicable act of violence, which struck the heart of the office of MP, and violated the holiness, both of the church in which he was killed, but also parliamentary permanence, so essential to our democracy.
"
Sense of derision
The
deputies had at times spoken with a sore throat
, but the tributes were punctuated with humor, as the parliamentarian was known for his sense of derision.
Mark Francois, elected Conservative from a riding close to that of David Amess, proved it: “
David Amess was my best and oldest friend in politics.
So, I confess to you, I am in terrible pain.
He sponsored my application, and advised me when I arrived.
Without him, I would never have become an MP.
So, in a sense, he's accountable to you.
"
This murder deeply shocked the country and revived the debate on the safety of elected officials.
The Interior Ministry is due to publish a report
on this in the coming days.
The seat which had been occupied by Conservative MP David Amess from 1983 until his death, empty during the tribute ceremony for the MP on October 18, 2021 in London.
© British Parliament, Jessica Taylor, via Reuters
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