Rebellious MPs keep operations open in their constituency during police guards debate
MPs continued to hold operations in their constituency yesterday as debate raged over whether MPs should be given police surveillance following the murder of Sir David Amess.
Insurgent Alec Shelbrooke, Tory MP for Elmet and Rothwell, who had surgery yesterday at a local supermarket, said: ‘We cannot allow events like this to weaken the deep relationship between an MP and their constituents.
“This is a relationship I value very much: I want my constituents, whether they voted for me or not, to be able to approach me on the street, in the pub, in the supermarket or in one of my practices.”
Former Tory Secretary David Davis said suspending public meetings “would be a terrible reflection of what David stood for”.
MPs continued to hold operations in their constituency as normal yesterday, as debate raged over whether MPs should be given police surveillance following the murder of Sir David Amess
Robert Largan, Tory MP for High Peak, tweeted: ‘I’ll keep doing my weekly surgery all year round, whatever the weather! We must all stand up for our democracy!’
dr. Kieran Mullan, the Tory MP for Crewe and Nantwich, tweeted: “Today we should not let surgery force us to do things differently. David wouldn’t have wanted that.’
Some MPs have sounded more cautious, with former Tory Defense Secretary Tobias Ellwood calling for a break from face-to-face meetings until a security assessment was completed. Labor MP Harriet Harman called for an official assessment of MPs’ safety.
Tory MP Andrew Percy told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Putting a police officer outside each MP’s operating room would be a very large use of police resources. We have to think very carefully before we decide to do that
Conservative MP Bob Blackman warned MPs would now be “wary” of what they are doing in light of Sir David Amess’s death.
He said he began undergoing his surgeries virtually or by phone when the coronavirus hit, and has no plans to resume them in person.
He told the PA news agency: “I have not considered returning because I had to protect myself. I am not at risk of Covid even though I am vaccinated. It’s like anything else, you have to think about your vulnerability.’
Tory MP Andrew Percy told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Putting a police officer outside each MP’s operating room would be a very large use of police resources. We have to think very carefully before we decide to do that.
“You can only offer so much protection to an MP who lives locally, shops locally and uses other local amenities.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel said measures will be taken to ensure MPs can meet voters safely.
She urged MPs not to be ‘tricked’ by those who threaten to ‘stop us from functioning’.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said measures would be taken to ensure MPs can meet voters safely