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Sir David Amess killed: Boris Johnson leads MPs into church service after Queen grants murdered MP his campaign wish

Latest on Sir David Amess after MP was stabbed multiple times at his constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex: Boris Johnson leads MPs into church service as colleagues pay emotional tributes; Queen grants his long-time wish of giving Southend city status.

The murder of Sir David Amess has sparked a debate about whether UK politics is too hostile
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MPs' tributes show the 'common purpose' of the Commons, Rees-Mogg says

Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the House of Commons, told Sky News: "It's very sad. The memories of David were extremely warm.

"He was a lovely, lovely man. He worked incredibly hard for his constituents and he was a strong Christian."

He said the words during the service were an "appropriate way of paying tribute" to Sir David Amess.

Mr Rees-Mogg added: "You do see how much good feeling there is in the House of Commons between the benches behind the scenes.

"There is a common purpose and David was such a great exponent of that. He was very amusing."

Sir Graham Brady, chairman of the 1922 Committee of Conservative backbenchers, said: "It's been lovely and entirely appropriate when marking the life of a great public servant and a great friend to many of us as well. It's been a beautiful service."

He said his "violent and hideously untimely death" has just shocked so many of us

Sir Graham said he hoped "some of the spirit that we've seen today of people pulling together" and recognising the importance of respecting other people's views stays.

"We've had too much rancour and bitterness and unpleasantness in public life and politics for too long," he told Sky News.

And if Sir David's life can mark a point where that changes then it will be a "really great legacy", he said.

The service has come to an end

MPs have started filing out of the church.

The light lit by public service must never be put out, Archbishop of Canterbury says

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, told MPs at the service in St Margaret's in Westminster Abbey: "Sacrifice is the rent paid to liberty by those who represent us.

"But when the cost is seen so visibly, with such demonic horror, what do we say so that we may comfort the grieving and be resilient in tragedy?

"First, that the light lit by public service must never be put out.

"Even in the darkest moments - and especially for Julia and David's children, this is as dark as could be - light continues."

He said Sir David Amess's political service was inspired by "his strong personal faith".

Archbishop of Canterbury says Sir David was 'of the best'

The church service is now under way, with Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, giving an address.

He says: "Too often when great tragedies happen we have to reflect that the best seem to be the first to suffer. 

"In this great tragedy, there is a unanimous conviction amongst all that knew him that Sir David was of the best."

He remembered him as a "friend to his constituents" who had a "robust fairness of spirit and charity of heart" which endeared him to MPs from all parties.

Before the address, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, speaker of the House of Commons, read a passage from the Bible, Thessalonians 4:13.

He addressed hundreds of his grieving colleagues, before they rose to sing another hymn.

MPs were pictured walking to the church from the House of Commons earlier.

In pictures: MPs pay tribute

 As the memorial service takes place in St Margaret's Church in Westminster, a reminder of some of the scenes from earlier, during tributes by MPs in the House of Commons.

MPs left a seat vacant for Sir David Amess during proceedings.

Sir David had 'boundless energy', friend and colleague says

Richard Hillgrove, a constituent and friend of Sir David Amess who spoke to him shortly before the attack, said the tributes paid today show "what a remarkable man" he was.

He said they showed "what depth of character he has and how he touched so many people's lives".

Mr Hillgrove told Sky News the MP "couldn't do enough" and had "boundless energy and enthusiasm"

He said it was "such a shock", adding: "I finished the call and he was so full of beans and talking about the future."

He added he watched the news on TV and recognised the location – so "started to fear the worst".

Former Conservative leader warns not to break the link between MPs and constituents

Breaking the link between MPs and their constituents would be "the very opposite" of the legacy which Sir David Amess deserves, former Conservative party leader Lord Howard of Lympne said.

During his tribute to Sir David in the House of Lords, he said: "This appalling tragedy has focused attention on the constituency role, which was the core of David's parliamentary life.

"It is one of the great strengths of our parliamentary democracy that every member of the House of Commons represents a constituency. And in my opinion, on the basis of my 27 years in that house, the constituency surgery plays a key role in the bond between a member of parliament, and his or her constituencies.

"It ensures that whatever our failures, and heaven knows there are many of them, it is really quite difficult for a member of parliament to be out to touch."

He added: "So, although I have no doubt that measures can be taken to improve security levels for members of parliament, I hope that nothing will be down to rethink the links between members and their constituents, in which surgery plays such an important part.

"That would be the very opposite of the legacy which David Amess so richly deserves."

Watch service live in stream above

We are now streaming the service at St Margaret's Church, which is beside Westminster Abbey.

MPs file in to church for service

The service of remembrance will take place at St Margaret's Church, near Westminster Abbey.

If you want to catch up with the emotional tributes paid by colleagues to Sir David, you can watch them in full here...