DEPUTY leader of the Labour Party Angela Rayner has faced renewed criticism on Twitter for calling Conservatives "scum" following the fatal stabbing of MP David Amess.

She made the comments during the Labour Party conference in Brighton last month, describing them as "a bunch of scum, homophobic, racist and misogynistic".

Sir David Amess, who had served as a Conservative MP since 1983, was stabbed repeatedly at his constituency surgery at a Methodist church in Leigh-on-Sea earlier this afternoon. He was 69.

Tory Scum has been trending on Twitter, with users criticising her choice of words.

A 25-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and a knife was retrieved from the scene.

It is not clear what the motive for the attack was.

Tributes have been flooding in from across the political spectrum.

Angela Rayner herself said she was "horrified by the reports," adding: "On behalf of all of us in the Labour Party I want to say all our thoughts are with David."

Before his death was announced, Brighton Pavilion MP Caroline Lucas also sent her thoughts and prayers to Sir David, his family and loved ones, and said that news of the attack was "horrific."

In an emotional tribute, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said: "The worst aspect of violence is its inhumanity. It steals joy from the world and can take from us that which we love the most.

"Today it took a father, a husband and a respected colleague."

The news comes five years after Labour MP Jo Cox was shot and stabbed outside her constituency surgery by a far-right extremist.

Sir David is the sixth MP to be assassinated since 1945 - a list which includes former Eastbourne MP Ian Gow, who was killed by a car bomb near his home by members of the Provisional IRA.

 

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