Highland councillor pays tribute to Essex Conservative MP Sir David Amess who was stabbed at his constituency surgery – Andrew Baxter was the MP's former area campaign director in the early 2000s
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A Highland councillor has paid tribute to an MP who was stabbed.
Conservative MP Sir David Amess died after being stabbed at his constituency surgery in Essex.
Andrew Baxter (Fort William and Ardnamurchan, Scottish Conservative and Unionist) posted on his Facebook page and said he was "reeling with shock" at the dreadful news.
He added: "In the early 2000s I was David's area campaign director in Essex. He was always so kind and amusing whenever I dealt with him on political matters. He was certainly a champion for his constituency – whether that was Basildon or latterly Southend West.
"I am fortunate to know many parliamentarians both at Westminster and in Holyrood from across the political divide. They all cherish the open democracy we have in Britain and the access constituents have to their elected representatives. Incidents like this and the brutal murder of Jo Cox MP before shake that system of democracy."
A police spokesman said a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder after the attack which was at a church in Leigh-on-Sea.
The 69-year-old had been an MP since 1983 and was married with five children.
