Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has told how he lies awake at night fearing he will get yet another phone call telling him an MP has been murdered.
The veteran politician was close friends with Conservative MP Sir David Amess, 69, who was stabbed to death during a constituency meeting a year ago today.
He was also deeply affected by the killing of Labour MP Jo Cox, 41, in 2016 when he was Deputy Speaker and her party colleague.
In an exclusive interview with the Sunday Mirror, Sir Lindsay, 65, said: “I remember getting a call to tell me the tragic news Jo Cox had been murdered. Five years later I picked up the phone to hear that Sir David had been attacked while holding a surgery.
“The one thing that keeps me awake at night is the worry of having another phone call. I never want to have to pick up another call to say another Member of Parliament has been murdered.”
Sir Lindsay, MP for Chorley, Lancs, since 1997, visited the scene of Sir David’s murder within hours in his role as Speaker.
He said: “To see where he was murdered was so moving and it’ll be with me for ever.
“I still couldn’t take in that David had died and he’d done it serving the people. David was larger than life, a great character, full of humour and friendship. He always took the trouble to be there for people and support people.”
Sir Lindsay, who revealed he has himself received death threats, is desperate to avoid another tragedy.
He has appealed to MPs to set an example to the public by showing respect for each other and to ensure they take up all security measures offered to them.
He said: “We continuously review, day in, day out, what we have to do with security. I always worry about the hate and the threats that have built up against staff.
“We also need to watch out for the nastiness of social media – the threats that come out there and the intimidation and the bullying.” Speaking about his hopes for the future, he said: “I want a nicer, kinder Parliament because if we’re horrible and we shout and bawl each other down, don’t be shocked when the public copies it.
“It’s about us setting the right tone and standard and that’s what I try to do, even though it’s an uphill battle at times! We should set an example by showing respect and tolerance to each other.
“It’s absolutely crucial we stick together. We must not allow Jo Cox and David’s deaths to go in vain.”
- Around 150 well-wishers gathered to plant a tree in memory of Sir David at one of his favourite spots in Chalkwell Park, Southend, today. The compost used was made of floral tributes laid in the aftermath of his death.
