The prime minister has led tributes to the Conservative MP David Amess, who has died after being stabbed at his constituency surgery.
Boris Johnson honoured an MP he called “one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics”, who had “an outstanding record of passing laws to help the most vulnerable” people. “All our hearts are full of shock and sadness today,” he said.
Flags outside the Houses of Parliament were put at half-mast as a mark of respect for the 69-year-old. The leader of the opposition, Keir Starmer, said it was a “dark and shocking day”, calling Amess a “dedicated public servant”. He said: “David had a profound sense of duty, that I witnessed first-hand in parliament.” The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, called Amess’s death “a truly terrible day for British politics”, and said he sent his prayers to those who loved him.
The health secretary, Sajid Javid, said he was devastated at the loss of “a great man, a great friend, and a great MP killed while fulfilling his democratic role”, while friend and MP for Portsmouth North, Penny Mordaunt, called him “an amazing, kind man who knew what mattered in life” who had served his community with “his whole heart”. The chancellor, Rishi Sunak, said: “The worst aspect of violence is its inhumanity. It steals joy from the world and can take from us that which we love the most. Today, it took a father, a husband, and a respected colleague.”
Brendan Cox, the husband of the Labour MP Jo Cox, who was murdered as she prepared to hold a constituency surgery in 2016, said his thoughts and love were with Amess’s family. “This brings everything back. The pain, the loss, but also how much love the public gave us following the loss of Jo. I hope we can do the same for David now,” he wrote.
The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, called Amess’s death “agonisingly painful for those who loved him” and said the MP had dedicated his life to championing causes he believed in, serving constituents and his country. “In this horrific and tragic moment we must come together, across political difference, and be the light that refuses to be cowed by darkness,” he said.
The Welsh first minister, Mark Drakeford, added his tribute, calling the stabbing “a truly despicable and horrifying act”, while the Scottish first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said elected representatives from across the political spectrum were united in sadness and shock.
Tributes flowed from politicians of all parties – the Labour MP Dawn Butler recalled the “lovely conversations” she had had with Amess, who she described as “a really nice man”. Her party colleague Chris Elmore said he was at a loss. “David was doing his job. His job,” he wrote. The Labour London mayor, Sadiq Khan, said Amess “loved being an MP and was a great public servant”, adding: “My thoughts and prayers, and those of all Londoners, are with David’s loved ones at this time of unimaginable grief.”
The Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, said Amess was “devoted to his family, to parliament and to his Southend West constituency”. He wrote: “During his almost four decades here, [he] built a reputation for kindness and generosity.”
Amess was “a dedicated, thoughtful man and a true parliamentarian, who lost his life while serving the constituents who he worked relentlessly for throughout his career,” said the transport secretary, Grant Shapps. The foreign secretary, Liz Truss, called Amess “a lovely, lovely man and a superb parliamentarian”, and the Northern Ireland secretary, Brandon Lewis, said he was “one of life’s truly nice people, a gentleman, who was always ready to give his help to anyone who needed it”. The Conservative MP for Chatham and Aylesford, Tracey Crouch, said Amess was “one of the kindest, most compassionate, well-liked colleagues in parliament”, adding: “A little light went out in parliament today. We will miss you.”
The former prime minister Theresa May called the news of Amess’s death – an MP she described as “a decent man and respected parliamentarian” – “heartbreaking”, while Tony Blair said he and Amess had entered parliament at the same time. “Though on opposite political sides I always found him a courteous, decent and thoroughly likeable colleague who was respected across the house,” said the former Labour prime minister.
Carrie Johnson, the wife of the prime minister, said Amess was “hugely kind and good. An enormous animal lover and a true gent”, and the education secretary, Nadhim Zahawi, called him “a champion for animal welfare, the less fortunate, and the people of Southend West”.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the head of the Catholic church in England and Wales, said Amess, a practising Catholic, had died serving his constituents and country. “I pray for the repose of his soul, and for his family and constituents who grieve for him. May he rest in peace,” he said.