Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has pledged to the family of murdered MP Sir David Amess that an independent review will be conducted into state failings prior to his death. The veteran MP's daughter, Katie Amess, met with Mahmood at the Home Office on Wednesday, where she was assured the Government would work "at pace" to carry out the investigation.
Family's Persistent Call for Accountability
Katie Amess has made repeated calls for a full public inquiry into her father's murder, stating it is the only path to achieve what she terms "real accountability." Following the meeting, she expressed a cautious willingness to cooperate with the government's proposed review but issued a firm warning.
"They are saying we will be involved in the terms of reference and getting some of the answers we want," Ms Amess said. "I'm willing to work with them, and to go down this road with them, but if in another year's time I still don't have any answers then I'm going to come back again and then again and again."
She emphasised her determination, stating: "My father was a Member of Parliament for 40 years – we don't know why the Government and the Prevent scheme let his perpetrator go. Until I get those answers, I'm not going to stop."
Background of the Case and Previous Reviews
Sir David Amess was stabbed to death at his constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, in October 2021. His killer, Ali Harbi Ali, a fanatic inspired by so-called Islamic State, was given a whole-life prison order the following year. It was revealed that Ali had been referred to the government's anti-radicalisation programme, Prevent, seven years before the murder, but his case was closed in 2016.
The family's demand for a public inquiry was previously rejected by former home secretary Yvette Cooper, a decision Lady Amess and Katie called "totally unacceptable" and "insulting."
A review into the Prevent scheme by Independent Prevent Commissioner David Anderson KC last year found that Ali's case was closed too early following "problematic" assessments. However, Ms Amess has expressed deep concerns about the limitations of a non-statutory review, citing the Anderson investigation's obstacles.
"In a review you're not compelled by a judge to answer these questions," she noted, referencing how individuals questioned by Lord Anderson claimed not to remember details. "I can't see what other answers they are going to have for me – but I have to go down this road."
Path Forward and Government Action
The Home Office has confirmed that approaches have been made to find a suitable individual to lead the independent review, though an appointment has not yet been finalised. Ms Amess's adviser, Radd Seiger, described the commitment to a review as a "step forward" from the outright rejection of an inquiry and said they would work collaboratively with the Government moving forward.
The central questions for the Amess family remain unanswered: why was Ali Harbi Ali's case within the Prevent programme discontinued, and what systemic failures allowed a man deemed a potential threat to murder a sitting MP? The promised independent review now represents the family's immediate hope for transparency and accountability, as they continue their long campaign for justice.
