David Anthony Andrew Amess was born on 26 March 1952 in Plaistow, Essex (now part of Newham, London).[1] From a working-class background, he was the son of James Amess, an electrician, and his wife Maud Martin, a dressmaker.[1][2][3] Amess was raised Catholic, like his mother.[4] Maud died on 12 October 2016 at the age of 104.[5]
Amess attended St Anthony's Junior and Infant School, then St Bonaventure's Grammar School (now St Bonaventure's Catholic School) on Boleyn Road in Forest Gate.[6] He said later in life that his political interests stemmed from his time at St Bonaventure's,[2] where he stood for the Revolutionist Party, whose key demands were for minimum pocket money and the abolition of homework;[7] by the time he became an adult, he was a Conservative.[7] As a child he had a stammer, and speech therapy to correct this resulted in the loss of his natural Cockney accent.[1][2] Amess went on to Bournemouth College of Technology (now Faculty of Science and Technology of Bournemouth University), where he earned a bachelor's degree (BSc Econ Hons 2.2) in economics and government.[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.[7][9]
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. He held his Basildon seat narrowly at the 1987 general election, partly by developing a significant personal following. After the election, Amess was appointed a parliamentary private secretary to Michael Portillo, a position he held for ten years throughout Portillo's ministerial career. Amess held his seat again at the 1992 general election, which was the first sign that the Conservatives would unexpectedly win that election; the Basildon constituency was viewed as the make-or-break milestone.[16]
Prior to the 1997 general election, there was a boundary review which divided the Basildon seat into two parts, which were added into two neighbouring seats. At the time, Amess remarked that the Boundary Commission "had raped the town of Basildon" by adding an extra seat there.[17] Given his small majority, the new Basildon constituency was almost certainly going to be gained by Labour. Amess thus decided to seek re-election elsewhere. In June 1995, Amess was selected for Southend West after the retirement of former Cabinet minister Paul Channon. He was consequently returned to Westminster again in the 1997 general election. Angela Evans Smith won the newly-drawn Basildon seat for Labour in 1997 by over 13,000 votes.[18]
In 2014, he helped to pass the Security Printing (Specialist) Materials Bill. This bill ended a loophole which allowed companies who supplied specialist printing equipment to counterfeiters to evade prosecution.[27]
In 2016, he helped to pass the Driving Instructors (Registration) Bill. This statute streamlined the process whereby instructors whose registration has lapsed can apply to return to the register. It also allowed instructors who wish to leave the register for personal reasons to do so without being penalised. Driving school owners and motoring organisations supported the bill.[28]
Protection against Cruel Tethering Act 1988
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]
Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act 2000
Amess's most publicised legislative success came in 2000 with the Warm Homes and Energy Conservation Act. According to a speech in the House of Commons made by Amess, the Act came to fruition after he was drawn out of the Private Members Ballot.[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.[31]
This Act was widely credited with a significant change in both attitude and policy towards fuel poverty within the UK.[33] The scale of fuel poverty in England fell from 5.1 million households to 1.2 million households between 1996 and 2004, indicating the impact of the Act.[33]
Parliamentary committees
Health Select Committee
Amess served on the Health Select Committee from 1998 until 2007. Due to his role on the Health Select Committee, he became Chair of the Conservative Party Backbench Committee for Health in 1999.[34] He campaigned on various health issues since. 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.[35] The report found that two-thirds of the population of England are overweight or obese and went on to discuss the causes of obesity, as well as making various recommendations to combat the problem. He maintained an interest in the issue, tabling a series of Parliamentary Questions in July 2013.[36]
Amess campaigned for many years to have a statue erected in honour of Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who saved tens of thousands of Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary, an endeavour for which Wallenberg eventually lost his life. Amess began asking parliamentary questions in the late 1980s[42] regarding Wallenberg, campaigning for him to be awarded honorary British nationality. Amess had previously attempted to push through a Raoul Wallenberg (Memorial) Bill in the 1989–90 session.[43] He held an adjournment debate in Wallenberg's honour in 1996.[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.[45]
Amess became a Fellow of the Industry and Parliament Trust in 1994. 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. Amess became chairman of the board of trustees in 2014 and stood down at the end of his term in 2017.[47]
Comments about Weinstein scandal
In October 2017, following the Harvey Weinstein sexual misconduct allegations, a statement was issued in the name of Amess which described the allegations against Weinstein as "dubious to say the least" and quoted Amess as having said that the "sudden flurry of alleged inappropriate advances beggars belief". Amess later retracted the statement and apologised "for any upset", saying that his staff had issued the statement without his authorisation.[48]
Media and publications
Publications
Amess wrote a pamphlet about his 1992 re-election to the Basildon constituency, Basildon—Against all Odds (2012).[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 pamphlet, which was launched in the House of Commons in April 2014,[51] included contributions from four government ministers, including Sajid Javid, Mark Francois, Patrick McLoughlin, and Mike Penning.[52] The second edition of Party of Opportunity was launched in January 2015, sponsored by the Association of Conservative Clubs and included contributions from 29 Conservative MPs.[53]
Ayes & Ears: A Survivor's Guide to Westminster was published by Luath Press in December 2020. The book includes sketches of colleagues, memorable speeches, scandals, and descriptions of major events in Parliament from an insider's viewpoint. In February 2021, it was announced that the book had been shortlisted for the Parliamentary Book Awards in the Memoir/Biography category.[54]
Brass Eye
Amess appeared in the February 1997 "Drugs" episode of the spoof current affairs television programme Brass Eye, and was fooled into filming an elaborate warning against the dangers of a fictional Eastern European drug called "cake".[55] Amess later asked a question about "cake" in Parliament, alongside real substances khat and GHB. In response, the Home Office minister incorrectly replied that "cake" was a name "we understand refers to 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-benzylamphetamine",[56] a real drug. In 2001, when Brass Eye was repeated and released on DVD, a disclaimer was added to the "Drugs" episode at Amess's request reiterating his disapproval of recreational drug use.[57]
Amess was one of 30 Conservatives who voted against military action in Syria in August 2013. He later commented that he felt the way he and his colleagues voted "made a difference" and if he had previously voted against the war in Iraq "things might be different" there as well.[60] Amess supported the reintroduction of capital punishment.[61] He was a critic of the government of Iran, and advocated for the National Council of Resistance of Iran; he publicly endorsed Maryam Rajavi's 10-point manifesto.[62][63] Amess was supportive of refugees and asylum seekers.[64][65]
Amess opposed abortion.[61] In June 2005, Amess supported the Prohibition of Abortion (England and Wales) Bill introduced by Laurence Robertson that sought to almost entirely ban abortion.[66][67] After entering the House of Commons, Amess generally opposed bills furthering LGBT rights, including equal age of consent and same-sex marriage.[68][69]
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]
At the Dods Charity Champion Awards 2011, Amess won the Animal Welfare and Environment Champion award,[82] in which he was recognised formally for his leading role in and commitment to animal welfare, and was presented with the award by John Bercow, Speaker of the House of Commons, in the State Rooms of the Speaker's House. The award is given to the parliamentarian who has done the most to tackle issues concerning the welfare of animals and the natural environment.[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.[83]
He was nominated for the Policy Driver for Animal Rights Protection award at the Grassroot Diplomat Awards 2014 for his longstanding dedication to animal rights.[84]
As an animal lover, his family had several pets. In 2016, these included a rescue dog; a pug called Lily.[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.[89][90]
Amess was the president of the Music Man Project, a local charity that provides musical opportunities to people with learning disabilities. He appeared with the group in performances at the Royal Albert Hall and the London Palladium.[91]
Electric train in Southend named Sir David Amess, 2022
Amess's shield displayed in the Commons chamber
On 1 March 2022, Southend was granted city status by the Queen; the city was visited by the Prince of Wales that day as a tribute to Amess.[107][108] In October, politicians paid tribute to Amess and a tree was planted in his memory in Southend.[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.[110][111] In December, a fund was launched in his memory.[112]
A statue of Amess, by sculptor Andrew Lilley, began in January 2023.[113] Amess's widow was moved upon seeing its completion in October, stating, "...I felt I could reach out and touch him."[114] The statue was unveiled near the Chalkwell Lifeguards' base in Southend,[115] on 11 April 2024.[116][117][118]
^ abcBates, Stephen (17 October 2021). "Sir David Amess obituary". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
^"David Amess MP". Southend West Conservatives. Archived from the original on 3 November 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
^House of Commons Health Committee (27 May 2004). Obesity(PDF) (Third Report of Session 2003–04). Vol. I. London: The Stationery Office Limited. Archived(PDF) from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2014.
^Amess, David (n.d.). Skelton, David (ed.). The Party of Opportunity(PDF). Foreword by John Major. Renewal Group. Archived(PDF) from the original on 18 October 2021. Retrieved 18 October 2021.
Aditya GumayLahirAditya Gumay4 Oktober 1966 (umur 57)Jambi, IndonesiaPekerjaanSutradaraPenulis naskahProduser eksekutifTahun aktif1986 - sekarang Aditya Gumay (lahir 4 Oktober 1966) adalah sutradara film berkebangsaan Indonesia. Namanya mulai dikenal publik sejak menyutradarai acara Lenong Bocah yang ditayangkan oleh stasiun TPI pada dekade 1990-an. Ia adalah pengasuh sanggar Kawula Muda dan sanggar Ananda yang didirikannya pada tahun 1986. Sanggar itu yang banyak membantu ikut men...
Yemeni tribal confederation HashidحاشدQahtaniteSadiq al-Aḥmar, former Sheikh of all sheikhs of HashidEthnicityArabNisbaAl-HāshidiLocationYemenDescended fromJashim ibn Jubran ibn Nawf ibn Tuba'a ibn Zayd ibn Amr ibn HamdanParent tribeBanu HamdanBranches Banu Suraim Banu Kharif Banu al-Asimat Banu Eudhr Banu Ghithan Banu Qasim Banu Arajila Banu Yam Banu Murra Banu Ajam LanguageArabicReligionIslam The Hashid (Arabic: حاشد; Musnad: 𐩢𐩦𐩵𐩣) is a tribal confederation in Yemen. ...
American astronaut and lunar explorer (1932–2018) This article is about the astronaut. For other uses, see Alan Bean (disambiguation). Alan BeanBornAlan LaVern Bean(1932-03-15)March 15, 1932Wheeler, Texas, U.S.DiedMay 26, 2018(2018-05-26) (aged 86)Houston, Texas, U.S.Resting placeArlington National CemeteryEducationUniversity of Texas, Austin (BS)AwardsNASA Distinguished Service MedalSpace careerNASA astronautRankCaptain, USNTime in space69d 15h 45mSelectionNASA Group 3 (1963)Total EV...
City in Egypt For the Tanzanian city, see Dar es Salaam. For the Southeast Asian Country, see Brunei Darussalam. For other uses, see Dar al-Salam. This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Dar El Salam – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2010) (Learn how and when to remove this mes...
Particular size, weight and style of a typeface This article is about font in relation to typesetting. For the electronic data file, see Computer font. For other uses, see Font (disambiguation). See also: Typeface The Bauer Bodoni typeface, with samples of the three of the fonts in the family In metal typesetting, a font is a particular size, weight and style of a typeface. Each font is a matched set of type, with a piece (a sort) for each glyph. A typeface consists of various fonts that shar...
Miguel Ángel Ramírez Nazionalità Spagna Calcio Ruolo Allenatore Squadra Sporting Gijón CarrieraCarriera da allenatore 2003-2010 Las PalmasGiovanili2010-2011 AEK AteneGiovanili2011 PanathīnaïkosGiovanili2011 OlympiakosGiovanili2011-2012 Las PalmasGiovanili2012-2018Aspire AcademyGiovanili2018-2019 Independiente del ValleGiovanili2019-2020 Independiente del Valle2021 Internacional2021-2022 Charlotte FC2023- Sporting Gijón 1 I ...
Pour le groupe laitier, voir Groupe Laïta. Pour la rivière autrichienne, voir Leitha. LaïtaRivière du Pouldu La Laïta à Quimperlé. Caractéristiques Longueur 17 km Bassin 922 km2 [1] Bassin collecteur Laïta Débit moyen 13,5 m3/s (à Quimperlé) [2] Régime pluvial océanique Cours Source confluence Isole / Ellé · Localisation Quimperlé · Coordonnées 47° 52′ 15″ N, 3° 32′ 43″ O Embouchure Océan Atlantique · Localisation Gu...
Aleksander mengunjungi Diogenes. Lukisan tahun 1910 oleh William Rainey. Pertemuan Diogenes dan Aleksander adalah salah satu cerita yang paling banyak dibahas dari sejarah filsafat. Banyak versi yang ada. Hal yang paling terkenal menghubungkannya sebagai bukti ketidakpedulian Diogenes terhadap kekuasaan, kekayaan, dan kesopanan.[1] Plutarkhos dan Laertios melaporkan bahwa Aleksander dan Diogenes meninggal pada hari yang sama pada tahun 323 SM.[2] Meskipun kebetulan tersebut di...
Award Award 1964 Nobel Peace PrizeMartin Luther King Jr.for his non-violent struggle for civil rights for the Afro-American population.Date 14 October 1964 (announcement) 10 December 1964 (ceremony) LocationOslo, NorwayPresented byNorwegian Nobel CommitteeFirst awarded1901WebsiteOfficial website ← 1963 · Nobel Peace Prize · 1965 → The 1964 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the American Baptist minister and activist Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) for his ...
Harry BelafonteBelafonte pada 1964LahirHarold George Bellanfanti Jr.(1927-03-01)1 Maret 1927New York, A.S.Meninggal25 April 2023(2023-04-25) (umur 96)New York, A.S.Nama lain Harold George Belafonte Jr. Harry Bellanfanti Jr. PekerjaanPenyanyiaktoraktivisTahun aktif1949–2023KaryaDiskografiPartai politikDemokratSuami/istriMarguerite Byrd (m. 1948; c. 1957)Julie Robinson (m. 1957; c. 200...
لمعانٍ أخرى، طالع كريونيريون (توضيح). كريونيريون تقسيم إداري البلد اليونان [1] خصائص جغرافية إحداثيات 40°48′54″N 23°16′45″E / 40.815°N 23.27916667°E / 40.815; 23.27916667 الارتفاع 610 متر، و620 متر السكان التعداد السكاني 727 (resident population of Greece) (2021)852 (resident population of Greece)...
Romanian fencer Alexandru NilcaPersonal informationBirth nameSándor Nyilka[1]Born (1945-11-06) 6 November 1945 (age 78)Târgu Mureş, Romania[2]Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)Weight74 kg (163 lb)SportSportFencingEventSabreClubTg. MuresCSA Steaua București[3]Coached byAndrei KakucsLadislau RohonyiDumitru Mustaţă[3] Medal record Representing Romania Olympic Games 1976 Montréal Sabre, team World Fencing Championships 1974 Gr...
هذه المقالة يتيمة إذ تصل إليها مقالات أخرى قليلة جدًا. فضلًا، ساعد بإضافة وصلة إليها في مقالات متعلقة بها. (سبتمبر 2018) انتوني لورلينغ معلومات شخصية الميلاد 22 أبريل 1977 (العمر 47 سنة)سيرتوخيمبوس الطول 1.73 م (5 قدم 8 بوصة) مركز اللعب وسط الجنسية مملكة هولندا مسيرة الش...
Road in Croatia Zagreb bypass in use other motorwaysRoute informationPart of Length48.9 km (30.4 mi)Major junctionsBeltway around ZagrebFrom A2 in Zaprešić interchangeMajor intersections A3 in Jankomir interchange A1 in Lučko interchange A3 in Ivanja Reka interchangeTo A4 and D10 in Sveta Helena interchange LocationCountryCroatiaCountiesCity of Zagreb, Zagreb CountyMajor citiesZagreb, Velika Gorica, Samobor, Zaprešić Highway system Highways in Croatia Lučko interchange (v...
Dutch footballer (born 1987) Eljero Elia Elia in 2012Personal informationFull name Eljero George Rinaldo Elia[1]Date of birth (1987-02-13) 13 February 1987 (age 37)Place of birth Leidschendam-Voorburg, NetherlandsHeight 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]Position(s) WingerYouth career SV Voorburg TONEGIDO1996–2000 ADO Den Haag2000–2002 Ajax2002–2004 ADO Den HaagSenior career*Years Team Apps (Gls)2004–2007 ADO Den Haag 59 (6)2007–2009 Twente 64 (11)2009–2011 H...
Сіль дихромат калію має яскраво-помаранчевий колір, характерний для аніона хромату. Со́лі — хімічні речовини йонної будови, до складу яких входять кислотні залишки (аніони), поєднанні з катіонами різного походження (атоми металів, металоподібні групи, як NH+4, та ін.). Ут�...