Brecon and Radnor MP Fay Jones has said she will not be conducting her job from behind a screen or with a police presence in the wake of the murder of her colleague MP David Amess.
Ms Jones, who called his murder as an attack on democracy, described her profound shock and sadness at his brutal assassination earlier this month.
Sir David Amess was killed during an attack in his regular surgery meeting in his constituency of Southend West. He is the second Member of Parliament to have been murdered in five years.
Ms Jones said: “The appalling murder of Sir David Amess is a hideous crime. He was exactly what a Member of Parliament should be – kind, hard-working and always banging the drum for his constituency. I am absolutely horrified at what has happened. It is more than an attack on a dedicated public servant, it is an attack on our democracy.
“I want to thank the many constituents who have gotten in touch over the last few days with concerns for my safety. I will of course be reviewing the security arrangements around the office, and that of my wonderful team, but I want to make it absolutely clear that I will not be conducting this job from behind a screen, or with police presence.”
Ms Jones emphasised that Brecon and Radnorshire is her home where she enjoys stopping to talk to other members of the community - whether she is holding an advice surgery or just running errands at the shops or the post office.
She said: “Brecon and Radnorshire is my home. It is a genuine pleasure to chat to people as I do my shopping or wait at the Post Office. As shocked and disturbed as I am, the answer to an attack on democracy is not less democracy.
“It is essential that Members of Parliament are available to their constituents as much as possible. I will continue to hold surgery meetings around the constituency and my office will always be open to those who want to come and discuss whatever is important to them.”
Brecon and Radnorshire’s MS James Evans also paid tribute to Sir Amess while sending a clear message that “democracy will prevail”.
He said: ““Sir David Amess served his constituents with dedication and distinction for decades. Respected across our political parties, he embodied the qualities I as an elected member strive towards.
“This savage attack on a democratically elected public servant has sent shockwaves across the country. We must never let those seeking to destroy our way of life win. Our democracy will prevail..
“I send my sincere condolences to Sir David’s wife and family, his friends and those who worked with him.””
Parties across the UK came together to remember the politician who is remembered as “kind” and “hard working”.
The leader of Powys Labour, Matthew Dorrance, paid his respects to the MP who left behind a wife and five children.
Cllr Dorrance said: “The murder of Sir David Amess is an awful act of violence and I and colleagues in the Labour Party send sincere condolences to his family, staff, colleagues and constituents.”
The Powys County Council for Llandrindod Wells North, Jake Berriman said he had been away for a couple of days when MS Jane Dodds contacted him to break the news.
He said: “Sir David’s death was indeed a most shocking incident. I was away for a couple of days walking the coast path when the news broke and our leader, Jane Dodds, rang me personally to break the news and to check on me as she thought that I might be holding one of my fortnightly surgeries in our Llandod office.
“Of course all such activities have been suspended until we know more, but whilst I hadn’t given my own safety in the office significant priority, we will have to think much more carefully about our (lone-working) arrangements.
Cllr Iain McIntosh also paid tribute saying, “Like many other people in the political world, and beyond, I have been trying to come to terms with the shocking murder of Sir David Amess MP. I did not know David, but after listening to MPs paying tribute to him in Parliament, I wish I had.
“MPs from all parties have spoken about David with great fondness, love and respect, reminiscing about his work, his commitment to his constituents and, some of the funny things he used to get up to.
David was the embodiment of open, decent, cross party politics. He realised the way to get things done involves working with everyone, even those politically opposed to him.
“He was not one for hurling insults or threats, despite receiving them himself regularly, like many of us involved in politics, including myself and my own family.
It is time the hatred for anyone with different views stopped, whether it is on a political level, religion, or anything else. We all have strong views about one thing or another, that is why some of us get involved with politics, to try and get the things we believe in done.
“None of us, from any political party, fit some of the descriptions often reported in the press or social media. None of us deserve to die.”.