Following the unthinkable killing of my friend and colleague, Sir David Amess MP, last Friday, it is fair to say that words cannot really express how I feel at the moment and the truth is that the enormity of what has happened has not yet sunk in. David’s death serves to illustrate the fragility of life and I simply cannot believe that he has gone.
As the outpouring of emotion that we have seen amongst parliamentary colleagues, in his Southend community, and in the country, demonstrates, David had public service to his core, coupled with a fantastic smile that lit up a room and a brilliant sense of humour. He was kind, caring and generous - and was a tireless campaigner and a parliamentarian we all admired. His loss leaves a massive hole, but I have no doubt that his legacy will live on.
My thoughts are with David's family at this terrible time. They have so much to be so proud of - a life of service for others, scores and scores of quiet kindnesses that will never be known more widely, but which meant so much and countless achievements large and small, local and national. In the last few days I have recalled so many examples just in relation to the encouragement, advice, help and support he showed to me as a new MP, for which I will be forever grateful. In fact, only a couple of weeks ago, he sent me a lovely note congratulating me on my new ministerial role - a typically David thoughtful thing to do.
David really was a wonderful man - a colleague and a friend - and one of the very best, taken too soon. That is exactly how I will remember him.
One thing I do know is that despite the horrors of what has happened, he would not for a moment have wanted Members of Parliament to hide away from their constituents and we must simply not allow those who wish to destroy our proud democratic traditions to succeed. They will never win. Instead, we must redouble our commitment, across political parties, to our democratic way of life - with safety at the forefront of course - but with vigour and determination in our hearts.