UK Parliament honors lawmaker slain at constituents’ meeting

LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson led a somber British Parliament on Monday in honoring the Conservative lawmaker stabbed to death as he met constituents at a church hall, an attack that has raised questions about how the country protects it politicians and grapples with extremism at home. Police say the suspect may have had a “motivation linked to Islamist extremism.” The prime minister told lawmakers that “this House has lost a steadfast servant.” “Sir David was taken from us in a contemptible act of violence, striking at the core of what it is to be a member of this House and violating the sanctity both of the church in which he was killed and the constituency surgery that is so essential to our representative democracy,” Johnson said, referring to the open meetings British lawmakers hold with those they represent. Then lawmakers from all parties stood recall Amess fondly as a hard-working legislator who never sought high office but, as Johnson put it, “simply wanted to serve the people of Essex,” his home county. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, who often differed with Amess politically, said the late lawmaker held his beliefs “passionately but gently,” and his life was a reminder that “civility matters.” After the tributes, lawmakers crossed the street from Parliament to the medieval St. Margaret’s Church, for a memorial service that included prayers for those who “feel vulnerable in public service.” Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said that, despite the horror of Amess’ death, “the light lit by public service must never be put out.” “In the face of mindless injustice, we determine to shine it all the more brightly,” said Welby, the leader of the Church of England. “We ask people to set aside their differences and show kindness and love to all,” said Julia Amess and the couple’s five children.