Wrexham and Flintshire MPs will continue face-to-face contact

The long-serving Southend West MP was fatally stabbed while meeting constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, near Southend, prompting a review of security measures protecting ministers and MPs.

The Leader asked the four MPs working in its circulation area if concerns for the safety of themselves and their staff had changed the way they looked at their job.

MPs have been advised not to discuss details of personal security measures, but they spoke candidly about wanted to continue to engage with their communities while paying heed to potential dangers.

Wrexham MP Sarah Atherton said: "Sir David’s death at the weekend has saddened and shocked all of us."

Sarah Atherton MP

She added: "It is a shame, but also painfully clear with recent events, that elected representatives across the country are at risk. I welcome the Home Secretary’s commitment to look again at our security arrangements.

"However, it is important that any measures strike a balance between fulfilling our democratic functions such as meeting with constituents, and making sure MPs and their staff are protected.

"Nonetheless, in the meantime, my team and I will continue to be available to all constituents. Being active in our community and engaging with constituents is a central part of my democratic role as the MP and this will not stop."

A sign placed next to the floral tributes left outside the Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, where Conservative MP Sir David Amess was killed on Friday. Picture date: Tuesday October 19, 2021.

Ms Atherton thanked the policing team in Wrexham for making her feel safe.

She added: "With respect to my personal security, I would also like to thank Inspector Luke Hughes and the local police team, who have always been brilliant in supporting myself my team, especially for example when my office was vandalised when a brick was thrown through the window. We are in regular contact, and Luke contacted me immediately to see how he could help.

"I cannot thank him and his team enough for all they do to keep everyone in Wrexham safe."

Simon Baynes, MP for Clwyd South, said he had recently started face-to-face contact with constituents as lockdown measures have eased, and he wanted that to continue.

Simon Baynes MP

Mr Baynes said: "I am deeply shocked and saddened by the death of Sir David Amess. He was a much liked and respected Member of Parliament and my thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and staff.

"Recently, with the reduction in Covid restrictions, I have started to hold MP advice surgeries in person again, including surgeries in Overton and Llangollen, during which I was able to help residents on a one-to-one basis with their issues.

"And I will continue to hold such face-to-face MP advice surgeries across the constituency in close co-ordination with the police and remotely via Zoom."

Rob Roberts, MP for Delyn, too wanted to maintain contact with the community, while taking some measures to ensure safety.

Rob Roberts MP.

He said: "My staff and I have discussed these issues at length, as you might expect, as I didn’t want to make any decisions that might impact on their wellbeing that they weren’t completely comfortable with. We have decided to continue with the surgeries as planned, as it is a crucial part of engagement in the constituency.

"We already ran an appointment-based system rather than a 'turn up and wai' option, and we are now only confirming the specific venue the day before to people who have been booked in."

Mark Tami, MP for Alyn and Deeside, was also approached to contribute to this article.

They spoke as security review for MPs is due to conclude within days:

Home Secretary Priti Patel faced calls from Labour to put in place a strategy to reduce the risk posed by lone attackers.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Ms Patel said she had been working with Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle on the issue of security for MPs in recent days.

She added: “It is absolutely right for all members of the House to recognise that we want to see consistency across the board when it comes to the safety and security of Members of Parliament and our ability to conduct our public duties as democratically-elected members of this House.

“The review is under way right now and I can confirm to all MPs that the policing review is concluding literally in the next few days.

“There will be more communications to all colleagues across the House in terms of how to conduct their work publicly in a safe and secure way, while giving the public the confidence and the assurance that they need when they’re coming to meet members in forums such as surgeries, but also that the one-to-one contact that members of Parliament require will be taking place.”

Home Secretary Priti Patel (second right) and former Prime Minister Theresa May (right) leave The Church of St Margaret, in the grounds of Westminster Abbey, London, after attending a service to honour Sir David Amess. Picture date: Monday October 18,

Ms Patel also told MPs: “The issue of lone attackers is not new and across society and across our country and other countries around the world sadly we’ve seen too many lone attackers in previous years.

“There’s a great deal of work taking place and we will continue to discuss actually the work across intelligence, policing, security, prisons and probation as well, to prevent the attacks, but also the data and intelligence-sharing that is undertaken across our systems, across our government but across all aspects of various institutions and society linked to some of the inquiries that are taking place.

“I also think it’s important to recognise, and I would like all members of the House to hear this, we have some of the best intelligence and security agencies in the world.

“I want to pay tribute to them today and our police forces for the work they have been doing, specifically in regard to the current investigation but also the much wider work they do to keep us safe every single day.”

On Wednesday, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick told members of the London Assembly Police and Crime Committee that officers have spoken to all London MPs in the past few days to discuss security arrangements and their planned appointments.

But Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said MPs could not be “put in a glass cage”.

Asked about the security arrangements around ministers and MPs on ITV’s Good Morning Britain programme, Mr Kwarteng said: “It’s been a very British way for ministers and MPs to be very accessible.

“We’ve changed as a society, it’s become more dangerous. But I think the link with the constituents, with voters, our electorate is really important and I wouldn’t want to see that in any way diminished or us as MPs, as politicians, sort of put in a glass cage, separated from voters.”