It has been a long time since the House of Commons has been overwhelmed by a mood of such profound grief and shock.
The atmosphere in the chamber – so often rowdy, raucous and ill-tempered – was one of sheer numbness as Yvette Cooper delivered her sombre statement on the Southport stabbings.
Over the years, the Commons has heard many shocking statements on terrible terrorist atrocities such as the Brighton bombing in the UK, hideous massacres abroad and other terrible crimes.
But what seemed to leave MPs stunned into silence and disbelief this time was the tender young ages – six, seven and nine – of the innocent victims in Southport. Many MPs were moved to tears.
All three children killed in attack named; follow Southport latest
MPs united in grief and shock
Indeed, throughout her statement, the voice of the home secretary, who earlier in the day had visited Southport and spoken to many of those caught up in the horror, appeared to be trembling.
Towards the end of the exchanges, DUP MP Jim Shannon, normally one of the most affable and cheerful MPs in the House, struggled to finish his plea for children’s safety before his voice gave way.
“We share his emotion,” the home secretary told him sympathetically, prompting the usually confrontational Lee Anderson of Reform UK to pay tribute to her for having “carried herself with great dignity”.
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What we know so far
Witnesses describe stabbings
Jim Shannon was moved to tears during a Commons statement on Southport
Joint call to combat misinformation
In her opening statement, Ms Cooper said the investigation was being supported by counter-terror police and would pursue “any contact the suspect may or may not have had with different agencies” beforehand.
But after Speaker Sir Lindsay…
