Evening Standard Comment: The death of David Amess is the latest warning to protect our MPs — and democracy

Parliament came together today to remember the life of Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, who was killed in a horrific terrorist incident on Friday.

From mid-afternoon, the proceedings of the House of Commons were dedicated to a special adjournment debate so that friends and colleagues could pay tribute to a Westminster stalwart.

A man has been arrested under the terrorist act and investigations will be underway into how he was radicalised, his motives and what the security services knew about him.

What we know for certain is there is too much anger in our political discourse, a seething disdain for MPs online, female MPs receiving hundreds of rape threats. These may not be directly linked to this one act of barbarism but each erodes our democracy.

There are practical steps that must be taken to ensure MPs are safe to go about their duties. Security measures should be widely available and tailored to the needs of each representative.

It is vital that MPs are not cut off further from the public. That constituency connection, the ability to lobby or receive help, is a cornerstone of our polity. Yet in any job, employees are entitled to an expectation that they will be protected from harm.

Sir David leaves behind a wife and five children. As they said in a moving statement last night, for some good to come from this tragedy, “be tolerant and try to understand”.