Sir David Amess: Mark Francois MP pays tribute to his 'best and oldest friend in politics'

Conservative former minister Mark Francois described Sir David as his “best and oldest friend in politics”, adding: “I confess I am hurting terribly so I hope the House will therefore forgive me if because of that my contribution this afternoon is even more incoherent than usual.”

The MP for neighbouring Rayleigh and Wickford added: “Everything I ever learned about being a constituency MP I learnt from David Amess. He sponsored me for the candidates’ list and he mentored me when I arrived.

“Without him I would never have become a Member of Parliament, so some might well argue he has much to answer for.”

Mr Francois recalled campaigning to help Sir David retain his Basildon seat in 1992, adding: “We were out canvassing on a council estate in Pitsea, I’ll never forget it, we knocked on this door and this monster of a bloke opened the door and he looked at us both and looked at the blue rosettes and he said: ‘Conservative? Tory? You must be bloody joking, I’m voting for that David Amess’.”

The anecdote prompted laughter in the chamber before Mr Francois noted he and his partner were due to be on Sir David’s table at the Southend West Conservative Party’s annual dinner on the day he was killed.