I WRITE as a member of Christians on the Left, a faith group affiliated with the Labour Party, as are similar groups with Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, to extend my prayers and expression of concern to the family and friends of Sir David Amess MP who was tragically killed last week.

Also in those prayers are the Conservative party in Southend West and nationally who will be feeling his loss; the members of the Methodist Church which gave him a base for his surgery ; members of Parliament to whom he was a colleague and the wider political community.

This was not just an attack on one individual or one political party, though it was that, but on the whole of our democratic system. There are those who claim that all politicians are the same and ‘only in it for themselves’ but in reality most are dedicated to the service of their community and society in general.

Political differences are superseded at times like these.

It is my personal wish that, once a successor has been chosen, that he/she will be given an unopposed clear run to election, as was, almost, the case following the murder of Jo Cox.

I call upon your readers to join in these prayers.

Alan Hickman

Skipton