David Amess death: Joanna Cherry warns threats to MPs must be taken 'more seriously'

The Edinburgh South West politician made the comments as questions are raised over security measures for parliamentarians after Sir David was stabbed to death while meeting constituents on Friday.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed the stabbing is being treated as a terrorist incident, with early investigations suggesting revealed “a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism”.

A 25-year-old man arrested at the scene on suspicion of murder is in custody at an Essex police station.

READ MORE: Scottish Parliament issues security warning to MSPs amid safety concerns

Sharing an article about her case, Ms Cherry wrote: “Earlier this year a man was convicted of making threats of sexual violence against me.

“It was a little reported aspect of the case that he had a previous conviction for carrying a knife.

“We need take threats against MPs more seriously”.

Yesterday, she wrote: “I’m devastated by the news of Sir David Ames murder. He was hugely respected across the Commons & a joy to deal with.

“Something is very wrong in our democracy when this can happen to an MP serving their constituents. My heart goes out to his family & friends”.

This morning, the Home Secretary has said security measures will be put in place to ensure MPs can continue to meet constituents safely.

A former minister called for face-to-face meetings to be suspended pending a security review after the fatal stabbing at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea near Southend.

But Priti Patel said it was possible to strike a balance between the safety of MPs and carrying out the democratic process in-person as she urged elected representatives not to be “cowed” by those threatening to “stop us from functioning”.

READ MORE: Tory MP stabbing a terrorist incident as potential 'Islamist extremism' revealed

Ms Patel, who laid flowers at the site of Sir David’s killing alongside the Prime Minister, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle on Saturday morning, told broadcasters: “We are open to surgeries, doing our job. We will continue to do that.

“That is why there are measures under way right now – I convened meetings yesterday, I’ve been with the Speaker of the House, and with the police and our security services to make sure that all measures are being put in place for the security of MPs so that they can carry on with their duties as elected democratic members.”

Her comments come after Tobias Ellwood, a former Tory defence minister, said physical meetings with voters should be paused while MPs await the result of the Home Secretary’s call for police forces to review security arrangements.

Local police forces are contacting every MP to discuss their personal safety and the security of any events they plan to attend.

The chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, who was hailed as a hero for his attempts to save the life of Pc Keith Palmer during the Westminster terror attack, tweeted: “MP engagement with the public … is a vital part of our work – our accessibility with the public.

“But understandable huge anxiety among MPs now.

“Until the Home Secretary’s review of MP security is complete I would recommend a temporary pause in face-to-face meetings.”

READ MORE: Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer lead floral tributes to killed MP David Amess

But former Cabinet minister David Davis said suspending public meetings with MPs would be “a terrible reflection of what David stood for”.

Meanwhile, the longest continuously serving female MP, Harriet Harman, said she would be writing to the Prime Minister urging him to back a Speaker’s Conference to look into what needs to change to ensure parliamentarians are safe in their constituencies.

Speaking to the BBC, the veteran Labour politician said: “We cannot have the death of an MP being a price worth paying for our democracy.”

She added: “I don’t think anybody wants to go to a situation where the police are vetting individual constituents who come and see us, but I’m sure there is a safer way to go about our business.

“That’s why I’m proposing we have a Speaker’s Conference, which is something that happens only once every 10 years or so where there is a major issue for Parliament and our democracy, and the Speaker brings together the parties and the authorities and comes up with recommendations.

“Since Jo Cox’s tragic killing, we’ve had changes in our home security, we’ve had changes in security in Parliament, but we haven’t looked at the issue of how we go about that important business in our constituency, but do it in a safe way – and I think we must do that now.”

In Scotland, the Scottish Parliament’s head of security has written a letter to all MSPs to remind them of security arrangements.

Following the death of Jo Cox in 2016 the Parliament’s corporate body funded security enhancements to a number of MSPs office based on Police Scotland advice.

Now, those security enhancements and procedures have been re-iterated to MSPs to help remind them how to stay safe and keep all of their staff protected.

In the letter to MSPs it directly addressed the fatal stabbing of Sir Amess and issued basic safety advice for MSP’s who meet face-to-face with constituents.

The advice, which listed seven key bullet points, suggested pre-cautionary measures such as setting up seating arrangements like "a table or desk between you and your visitor so this can act as a barrier if necessary" and making sure "the exit is behind you, enabling you to get out of the area quickly if you need to".

It also outlined how the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body (SPCB) would fund security upgrades for their offices, in light of any Police Scotland recommendations.

Commenting on the "developing situation", the Scottish Parliament said it was dedicated to keeping their staff safe.

A spokesperson said: “The issue of Members safety is taken extremely seriously, and the Parliament looks regularly at the threats that, regrettably, elected representatives face on a day to day basis.

“Following the death of Jo Cox in 2016 the Parliament’s corporate body funded security enhancements to a number of MSPs office based on Police Scotland advice.

“The Parliament’s Head of Security has written to all MSPs to remind them of the security arrangements in place for their safety and that of their staff.”