Friday evening UK news briefing: MP stabbed to death - witness accounts

Sir David Amess had been laughing and talking to locals outside one of his regular constituency surgeries. Minutes later, all hell broke loose.

An assailant pulled out a knife and stabbed the veteran Tory MP multiple times. Paramedics battled for two hours to save the 69-year-old, but he died of his injuries.

Witnesses described the panic in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, after the deadly attack this afternoon. "A woman had come out screaming on the phone, saying 'someone's been stabbed, please get here soon', he's not breathing'," said a local butcher in the Southend West constituency. Read the first-hand accounts of witnesses.

Essex Police said a 25-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of murder and a knife was recovered from the scene at Belfairs Methodist Church.

Detectives are not looking for any other suspects. Follow the latest updates here.

Figures across the political spectrum paid tribute to the "irreplaceable" MP. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who cut short a visit in Bristol to return to Downing Street, said "our hearts are filled with shock and sadness".

His wife, Carrie Johnson, described Sir David as "hugely kind and good", adding: "This is so completely unjust." Read more tributes.

Devout Christian and father of five

Days ago, Sir David was signing copies of his memoir of life as a backbencher at the Tory party conference and appealing for votes at the forthcoming Westminster Dog of the Year Show. A devout Christian, the father of five had been a Conservative MP for nearly 40 years. Sir David championed animal welfare and pro-life issues, but was above all a constituency politician. Chief Political Correspondent Christopher Hope has a profile of his life and most significant political achievements.

Are MPs adequately protected?

Since the turn of the century, attacks on MPs have taken place with alarming regularity. Nigel Jones, then MP for Cheltenham, was severely injured in January 2000 when he was attacked by a man with a sword. A councillor was killed in the same attack. In May 2010, East Ham MP Stephen Timms was stabbed twice in the abdomen by an Islamic extremist. Six years later, the country was rocked by the murder of Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox in a gun and knife attack by a far-Right supporter. As Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle calls for a review of security, Associate Editor Camilla Tominey says that, once again, we must ask if MPs are adequately protected when meeting constituents.

Evening briefing: Today's essential headlines

Covid | The US is to reopen transatlantic flights with Britain on November 8, as Joe Biden lifts the 18-month ban on fully jabbed UK travellers. The move, first revealed by Home Affairs Editor Charles Hymas, means air and land borders will allow international arrivals. It comes as people are urged to book further testing after 43,000 PCR tests at government-run sites resulted in false negatives. Jane Symons investigates why so many Covid tests are reporting confusing results.

• 'I will get hate mail' | Lord Winston backs professor in trans row

• Brexit talks | 'Big gap' remains between UK and EU - Lord Frost

• GB News boss | 'I thank Andrew Neil for terrific Farage suggestion'

• Visa crackdown | Threat to countries that refuse to accept migrants

• End of the royal tipple? | Queen advised to give up regular drinking

Comment and analysis

• Jeremy Warner | Higher pay is not enough for work-shy Britain

• Ross Clark | Don't blame trade unions for taking PM at his word

• Ruth Dudley Edwards | For Remainer zealots, EU can only ever win

• Suzanne Moore | I stopped calling Tories scum as a teenager

• Robert Tombs | Thanks to Anglo-Saxons, English yearn to be free

Around the world: Police heroics with arrow in back

An off-duty police officer who saved others even with an arrow in his back has been hailed as a hero in the Norwegian town rocked by a terror attack. Espen Brathen, a Danish citizen who recently converted to Islam, killed five people in a rampage. More could have died had the unnamed officer not intervened, locals told JohnJo Devlin in Kongsberg.

Friday interview: Bernard-Henri Lévy - 'Cancel culture is churning out imbeciles'

French philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy - the author known as BHL - despises intolerance in the West, but finds hope in troubled places. He tells Celia Walden how he discovers joy in a world of misery. Read the interview.

Sport briefing: Bruce hangs on at Newcastle

Newcastle have confirmed that Steve Bruce continues as their manager and will be on the touchline for the 1,000th time when the side face Tottenham on Sunday. "Change does not always happen overnight," said the club's new co-owner Amanda Steveley. These are the contenders to replace Bruce. Despite the buy-out, Jamie Carragher believes Newcastle's path to the title will be harder than Manchester City's.

Editor's choice

1. Adele, Inc | Why the music industry is banking on pop’s $1.5 million-a-day woman

2. Dos and don'ts of injectables | What Tom Cruise can teach men about midlife tweaks

3. Goodbye shoulder pads and aprons | How Prue Leith cooked up a new look - for her 80s

Business briefing: Shortages ‘to last another year'

As turmoil in global supply chains shows no signs of letting up, Ikea has warned that stock shortages will last another year. What exactly is the cause of the crisis? From soaring energy prices to shipping chaos, we explain how and why the world was plunged into turmoil. Meanwhile, petrol prices today surged above 140p per litre for the first time in almost a decade as the energy crisis continues to roil markets.

Tonight starts now

Epic duel | Ridley Scott's latest film is in cinema's from today, offering a fresh, nuanced take on France’s final official "trial by combat". Historian Dan Jones explains how The Last Duel, based on a true story, recalls the events from three different perspectives. And, in his four-star review, Chief Film Critic Robbie Collin says it has a bone-splintering climax. Read about more of the best films to watch at cinemas this autumn.

Three things for you

• Watch | TV: Stand Up To Cancer 2021, Channel 4 from 7.30pm

• Listen | Chopper's Politics podcast: EU ambassador to the UK

• Fantasy Fund Manager | It is back - with 10 chances to win £15k

And finally... for this evening's downtime

Bip Bop, Bogey Music and more | How well do Paul McCartney's lyrics stand up without the music? Ahead of a new, hefty study of his words, it is time to consider if he will stand the scrutiny of critical analysis. Neil McCormick delves in to ask: Is Macca a lyrical genius?