Sir David Anthony Andrew Amess (/ˈeɪmɪs/ AY-miss; 26 March 1952 – 15 October 2021) was a British politician who served as Member of Parliament (MP) for Southend West from 1997 until his murder in 2021.

Born and raised in Essex, Amess studied economics and government at Bournemouth University and then had short careers as a primary school teacher, underwriter and recruitment consultant.

The causes for which he campaigned included animal welfare, awarding city status to Southend-on-Sea, the honouring of Raoul Wallenberg, and support for those suffering from endometriosis.

[8][9] Amess taught disabled children at St John the Baptist Primary School in Bethnal Green for a year (1970–71), and then spent a short time as an underwriter (1974–76) before becoming a recruitment consultant.

In 1982, Amess was elected as a Conservative councillor to the London Borough of Redbridge's Mayfield ward, with his party forming the majority administration.

Campaign described him as "representative of new Essex man, working class, father electrician, right wing, keen hanger, noisily rambunctious, no subtlety".

[15][page needed] Amess continued serving as an MP and a local councillor until 1986, when he stood down from Redbridge Borough Council to concentrate on his Westminster seat.

At the time, Amess remarked that the Boundary Commission "had raped the town of Basildon" by adding an extra seat there.

[21][22] On 1 March 2022, Charles, Prince of Wales, presented the letters patent on behalf of the Queen in the council chamber at Southend Civic Centre, officially granting the town city status.

This bill ended a loophole which allowed companies who supplied specialist printing equipment to counterfeiters to evade prosecution.

The Protection against Cruel Tethering Act came about as a result of Amess's long-standing concern for animal welfare, supported by the National Farmers' Union.

Amess stated in the House of Commons that the Ten Minute Rule bill was "inspired by the Essex Horse and Pony Protection Society".

[29] The bill stated:In section 1 of the Protection of Animals Act 1911 there shall be added in subsection (1) the following words after paragraph (e) "or (f) shall tether any horse, ass or mule under such conditions or in such manner as to cause that animal unnecessary suffering …[30]Amess's most publicised legislative success came in 2000 with the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act.

[31] He met with Martyn Williams, a campaigner from Friends of the Earth, who convinced him of the need for the Act following on from the death of a constituent in a cold house.

While a member of the Committee, Amess played a prominent role in holding an inquiry into the state of obesity in the UK, leading to the publication of a report in 2004.

Amess began asking parliamentary questions in the late 1980s[42] regarding Wallenberg, campaigning for him to be awarded honorary British nationality.

[44] The resultant memorial created by sculptor Philip Jackson was installed in London, at Great Cumberland Place, outside the Western Marble Arch Synagogue and unveiled in 1997.

Amess completed an IPT Post-Graduate Fellowship I in 2012, specialising in the Cultural and Creative Industries at BRIT School, ITN and the Royal Opera House.

[49] It was launched in the House of Commons at an event to mark the 20th anniversary of the election and was attended by Prime Minister David Cameron and Conservative Party activists.

[50] Amess compiled a pamphlet titled Party of Opportunity with the Renewal Group, containing thirteen short biographical accounts of Conservative MPs who identify as working class or from a working-class background.

The book includes sketches of colleagues, memorable speeches, scandals, and descriptions of major events in Parliament from an insider's viewpoint.

[58][non-primary source needed] He voted for the 2003 invasion of Iraq but was afterwards critical of the Labour government's failure to find the weapons of mass destruction with which they justified the action at the time.

[66][67] After entering the House of Commons, Amess generally opposed bills furthering LGBT rights, including equal age of consent and same-sex marriage.

[71][72][73][74][75] In September 2011, Amess accused the BBC of being biased regarding its reporting of events in Israel, which he said was covered in a "highly disproportionate manner", showing the state in a "poor light".

[76] Amess was a Eurosceptic and came out in support of Brexit prior to the EU referendum,[77][78] in which he said it was "dangerous" and a "huge mistake" to vote "remain".

[82] Amess received the "Outstanding Achievement Award" at the Charity Champion Parliamentary reception hosted by Dods in 2012 in recognition of his lifetime commitment to charitable work.

[86] Amess was a lifelong supporter of Premier League team West Ham United and attended their final game at the Boleyn Ground in May 2016.

[88] Lily was succeeded by a French Bulldog called Vivienne who, shortly after Amess's murder in 2021, won the Westminster Dog of the Year Show.

[97] The investigation, led by Scotland Yard's Counter Terrorism Command, explored "a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism".

[109] A shield of arms bearing the motto "His Light Remains" was posthumously granted to him, unveiled in the chamber of the House of Commons by his widow in October 2023.