The UK government has rejected calls from the family of Sir David Amess for a public inquiry into his murder, sparking outrage from his widow and daughter. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper stated in a letter that an inquiry would not provide new insights beyond the trial of killer Ali Harbi Ali and the recently published Prevent learning review.
Family Calls Decision “Insulting” and “Unacceptable”
Katie Amess, Sir David’s daughter, condemned Cooper’s response, calling it “adding salt on to an open wound.” She criticized the government’s stance, questioning why inquiries were held for other tragic events but denied for her father’s case.
Lady Julia Amess urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to reconsider, ahead of their scheduled meeting with him and Cooper. She stressed that the government’s refusal to hold an inquiry undermines public trust in the system meant to protect citizens and public servants.
Why the Family Wants an Inquiry
Sir David Amess, the Conservative MP for Southend West, was fatally stabbed 20 times by Ali Harbi Ali, an extremist supporter of so-called Islamic State, during a constituency surgery on 15 October 2021. Ali had been referred to the government’s Prevent counterterrorism program seven years earlier, raising questions about missed warning signs.
Despite Ali receiving a whole-life sentence at the Old Bailey in 2022, the Amess family argues that a public inquiry is necessary to investigate failures in the Prevent programme and broader security measures.
Government Defends Its Stance
In her letter, Yvette Cooper maintained that previous investigations, including the trial, coroner’s report, and Prevent learning review, had already examined the case thoroughly. She announced the appointment of an independent external reviewer to assess existing findings, but insisted that a full public inquiry was unnecessary.
Downing Street echoed this position, stating that since Sir David’s murder, the Prevent programme has undergone significant improvements and that stronger security protections for MPs have been implemented.
What’s Next?
Despite the rejection, the Amess family will meet with the prime minister and home secretary on Wednesday to continue pressing their case. Katie Amess remains hopeful for a change of heart, stating, “I’m just going to plead my case and pray to God they’ll realise my dad was a human being, not just a political figure in a game of chess.”
The debate over whether the UK government failed to prevent Sir David’s murder continues to intensify, keeping pressure on officials to revisit their stance.
