At College Green Group, we work closely with MPs and political candidates from across the political divide, advising them on public engagement and political strategy. One of the most frequent concerns we hear is how to manage interactions with the public while ensuring safety.
Earlier today, I had the honour of hosting the family of Sir David Amess, the former Conservative MP for Southend West who was murdered in October 2021 at our offices on Great College Street for a national TV press conference. His daughter, Katie Amess, spoke bravely about their grief and the need for a public inquiry into his death. They believe the Prevent programme and other counter-terrorism measures must be properly reviewed to understand how radicalisation is tackled and where the system failed.
Despite this, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has rejected their calls for an inquiry, arguing that Sir David’s killer, Ali Harbi Ali, was already thoroughly investigated in court. This response has caused deep hurt, with Katie describing it as “adding salt to an open wound.”
It is difficult to understand why the government is willing to hold inquiries into other tragic events, such as the Southport and Nottingham attacks, but not this one. Ali had been referred to ‘Prevent’ years before he went on to stab Sir David 20 times during a constituency surgery. Why did no intervention stop him? It is frustrating that the UK Government is not using the latest techniques to combat extremism effectively. Without a full review of what went wrong, we risk failing to prevent future attacks.
Public inquiries are not just about accountability; they are about learning lessons and improving policies. Sir David’s murder was an attack on public service and democracy itself. The government’s refusal to investigate sends the wrong message – that some tragedies warrant scrutiny while others do not.
As the Amess family prepares to meet with the Prime Minister and the Home Secretary, I urge the Government to reconsider its stance. Without a proper inquiry, we cannot ensure that meaningful changes are made. Sir David’s legacy deserves more than silence – it deserves justice and action.
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Coverage of the press conference hosted at the College Green Group offices from BBC News, ITV News, GB News, and Sky News.
