The daughter of Sir David Amess has said the government’s decision to reject a national inquiry into his murder is an “absolute insult” and “betrayal to our father’s memory”.
Katie Amess said the death of her father, who was murdered by Ali Harbi Ali in 2021, had left an “unimaginable void” in her life.
She said the authorities had let her father down “so badly” and that his death had been “brushed under the carpet”.
In a news conference, she urged Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to reverse her decision, saying: “Do not let my father’s murder be forgotten.
Politics latest: UK advising Ukraine on handling peace talks with the US
“Do not let his death be just another statistic.”
Sir David was stabbed to death by Harbi Ali, an Islamic State (ISIS) supporter, during a constituency surgery at a church hall in Leigh-on-Sea on 15 October 2021.
The killer, who was given a whole-life sentence, had become radicalised by ISIS propaganda and had been referred to the anti-terror programme Prevent before the attack.
A review into his murder found that Harbi Ali was released from the Prevent anti-terror programme “too quickly”, with his case closed five years before the attack following one meeting at a McDonald’s to deal with his interpretation of what is forbidden under Islamic law.
The late MP’s daughter, who is also taking legal action against Essex Police and the Home Office, has dismissed that investigation as “another useless paper review conducted by a person of their choice”.
In a tearful statement, she accused Ms Cooper of having “strung” the family along for “months” by suggesting she “was working on ways to help us”.
Read more: What is Prevent?
