The death of Sir David Amess is of great heartbreak.
As I walked out of the House of Commons this afternoon, having heard of the terrible news of my friend's killing, I walked past the memorial to PC Keith Palmer.
On the Labour side of the Commons Chamber is a memorial to Jo Cox, fatally attacked during the referendum. There are similar memorials to Conservative MPs killed by the IRA during The Troubles. I have known each of them personally. Each is of immeasurable grief.
Airey Neave, Rev. Robert Bradford, Sir Anthony Berry and Ian Gow. Jo Cox and Sir David Amess. We remember their service, their dedication and what they brought to our nation.
We should not forget the Liberal MP's caseworker, Andy Pennington, who was fatally injured too.
I expect that hundreds of MPs will continue to have constituent advice sessions this weekend, next weekend, and on into the future. Mine certainly will.
This shouldn't happen but it has happened.
People need to be vigilant and diligent. If the question is asked: should MPs have better protection, our answer would be that we come in the middle of the pact. The most vulnerable are mental health workers, clergy, police, health service staff, shop keepers and public transport workers.
They expect to go on serving the public, so do we as MPs.
As we continue to do our duties, we may need to be careful.
We go on doing our duty.
