"One of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics", "the most committed MP you could ever hope to meet", a man who "loved grand ideas" and "built a reputation for kindness and generosity": these are just some of the moving tributes paid to Sir David AmessA Conservative MP who represented his Essex constituency of Southend West for 38 years, from 1983 until his death on Friday. MP over the weekend.

He died after being stabbed multiple times on Friday while holding a meeting with constituents in his Essex constituency. A 25-year-old man was arrested at the scene and is being held under the Terrorism ActA law passed in 2000 allowing someone to be arrested and charged with carrying out, planning or assisting in an act of terror..

Amess understood that the role of an MP is not to climb the greasy poleSince the 19th Century, some towns have held contests to see who can climb to the top of a greased pole. The term has entered the lexicon as a metaphor for working one's way to the top of a profession, no matter how undignified the process might be. of politics, but to fight tooth and nail for the rights of their constituents. When a constituent came to him as a last resort, after struggling to find treatment for endometriosisAn abnormality of the uterus, causing chronic pain and infertility., he researched the subject avidly and set up an All Party Parliamentary GroupAn informal grouping within Parliament that brings together MPs of multiple parties to discuss particular issues of concern. on the condition.

So it is especially poignant that Amess was killed doing exactly the part of his job that most mattered to him: meeting his constituents face-to-face, hearing their problems and doing what he could to help them.

Amess is the second MP in five years to be murdered while doing their job. In 2016, at the height of the referendum on the UK's membership of the EU, Labour MP Jo CoxThe MP for Batley and Spen from 2015 until she was murdered in June 2016 by a far-right terrorist. was killed, also while holding a constituency surgeryA special session, held weekly, in which MPs meet with members of the public to try to solve their problems., by fascist Thomas Mair.

Understandably, many politicians are now worried about their own safety. Diane AbbottThe first Black woman to be elected to the UK Parliament and one of the country's first Black MPs., who was found in 2017 to have received the most abuse of all female MPs, said that in future she would prefer to meet constituents behind a screen.

Some have proposed that to keep MPs safe from attackers, they should stop meeting constituents in person and shift towards online consultations.

This creates a dilemma. No-one wants to sacrifice safety. But some, like Speaker of the HouseThe chief officer of the House of Commons, who presides over its debates, chooses speakers and handles many areas of administration. They are expected to be strictly non-partisan. Lindsay Hoyle, feel that the "very essence of being an MP is to help and be seen by our constituents".

It is not certain when the tradition of constituency surgeries started, but it is thought to be at least 100 years old. And before that, it was understood that an MP has a duty to appear before their constituents regularly.

In a democracy, we can petition our MPs whenever we are in need of help. We can also give them a piece of our mind if we are angry about their performance. Some fear that separating MPs from their constituents would break this vital link between governor and governed.

But others point out that if MPs are not kept safe, then many good prospective MPs, especially those who are more vulnerable to attacks like women and people from ethnic minorities, will simply steer clear of politics.

For example, Kim LeadbeaterThe MP for Batley and Spen. She was elected only this year, in a by-election marred by dirty campaigning and racial tension., the sister of Jo Cox and MP for the same constituency, has revealed that her partner asked her to step down from her post in case she is also attacked.

So for many, Amess's murder is not only a tragic loss for his friends, family and constituents, but also a body blow to the way we do democracy.

Yes, say some. When politicians are afraid to do the most vital part of their job, that means democracy is already teetering on the brink of destruction. We need new measures to keep MPs safe, and we need to reduce the temperature of our politics, to reduce polarisation and divisions.

Not at all, say others. David Amess was a courageous public servant who died doing the part of his job he most loved. His example will serve as an inspiration to future generations of selfless, dedicated MPs. Our democracy will emerge from this tragic loss stronger than ever before.