AN SNP MP has paid tribute to his “good friend” David Amess after he died following a stabbing at a constituency meeting.

The Conservative MP for Southend West was fatally injured at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, at midday.

A 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder after Sir David was stabbed several times.

The 69-year-old, who had been an MP since 1983, is the second sitting MP to be killed in such circumstances in five years, following the death of Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016.

Politicians from across the political spectrum have been paying tribute to the long-serving MP, with Nicola Sturgeon calling the incident “awful beyond words” and deputy prime minister Dominic Raab commenting that he felt “heartbroken”.

The National:

Health Secretary Sajid Javid described Sir David as “a great man, a great friend, and a great MP” who was killed while fulfilling his democratic role.

Martyn Day, SNP MP for Linlithgow and East Falkirk, took to social media to share his memories of the MP and father-of-five.

“David Amess MP has been stabbed to death at his constituency surgery,” Day wrote. “Despite our differing party allegiances and political views we were good friends.

“I am very concerned by this shocking incident. I could say traumatised by the news which is just sinking in.

“David, his family and staff are in my thoughts and prayers.”

Day explained he had known Sir David since he was first elected to the Westminster Parliament in 2015.

The National:

“He was a joy to work with on the Administration select committee and we have remained on good terms as cross-party friends since. I have never met anyone who didn’t like him across the house.

“I have worked cross party with David on a number of issues and I had the pleasure of spending several days in his company this week,” he went on.

“Just this morning I received a message from him with all his usual humour. This loss will affect many of us across the political spectrum.”

“Everyone needs to take these attacks seriously, irrespective of party politics, a family has lost a husband and a father, many of us have lost a friend and the openness of our democracy has been further undermined.”

This afternoon, detectives are not looking for any other suspects and have asked witnesses with footage such as CCTV to come forward.

A large cordon extended down Eastwood Road, with members of the public gathering behind it, and multiple side streets closed off.

The National:

Brendan Cox, widower of Labour MP Jo Cox, wrote on Twitter: “This brings everything back.

“The pain, the loss, but also how much love the public gave us following the loss of Jo.

“I hope we can do the same for David now.”

Flags have been lowered to half-mast outside Parliament following the death of the Southend West MP.