Sunday's editorials are dominated by the killing of Conservative MP, Sir David Amess.

Scotland on Sunday

There is no easy answer to protecting our politicians, writes Euan McColm.

"It's entirely understandable that the killing of of Conservative MP Sir David Amess has prompted immediate calls for the security of MPs to be review.

"The anguish of politicians across the spectrum in the hours after Amess's death was palpable. Of course, they felt the pain of the sudden and uncessary loss of a friend and workmate.

"More than that, the 69-year-old MP's colleagues were united in the knowledge that any one of them could have met a similar fate. 

"In the circumstances, Home Secretary Priti Patel's order to police to review the security of MPs seems entirely reasonable. And, perhaps, that review will identify areas where improvements can be made.

"But let's be realistic. Of course we want our elected members to be able to do their job free from the risk of violence but it's not clear how that objective may be achieved.

"How on earth forces could provide support for every parliamentarian is a mystery.

"And what about the thousands of councillors across the UK who hold advice sessions for voters."

 

Sunday Post 

Policitians can do more to reduce the heat, writes Andy MacIver.

"The culpability for a murder lies with the murderer. An obvious statement but one which we would do well to remember over the next few days and weeks as we discuss the murder of a second MP in five years.

"Murder is very obviously at the opposite at the extreme end of the spectrum of over-zealous behaviour, and the motivation for David's killing will probably remove it from the spectrum entirely, but our politicians, and indeed the media, should take this opportunity to reflect more generally on the fact that the impact of their comments doesn't always end with a retweet.

"The 'Tory scum' graffiti on the office wall. Fairly tame perhaps. The brick through the window wrapped in a 'Tory scum' poster. A little less so. The death threats in the mail with 'Tory scum' liberally plastered on them. We can see where this spectrum goes.

"I'd like to see politicians pledge to do three things. Firstly question a politician's policies but never their motives. In 20 years working with them, I've yet to encounter a malevolent politician.

"Secondly put yourself in the shoes of your opponent. Finally, think through the potential consequences of what you are about to say."

 

Mail on Sunday 

'The visceral hatred of the Tories at the heart of Labour has to end," writes Dan Hodges.

"All Labour MPs remember David. His surprise victory in Basildon on Election night 1992 brought an end to the party's hopes of ousting John Major.

"But it was never held against him. As the warmth and sincerity of the tributes that have been paid from the Labour benches will attest.

"Though not all of those tributes have been welcomed. As news of the appalling attack was filtering through, a tweet from Angela Rayner expressing her own sympathies provoked anger from several Tory MPs and officials.

"'She was calling us scum a few days ago', one told me. She doesn't get to express sympathy today'".

"If the brutal killing of a Conservative MP should not be used to draw inappropriate parallels, it should at least give people pause.

"And more specifically it should give people on the Left pause.

"This morning, we have to  begin to talk about and confront, the scourge of Left-wing extremism."