Blogger spits on statue of murdered MP David Amess in Essex

A left-wing British blogger who goes by the name Angry Jesus has triggered a wave of criticism on social media after posting a video in which he spits on the statue of murdered Conservative MP David Amess in Essex. The clip appeared only a few days after the fifth anniversary of the killing of the politician, who was shot dead by a supporter of the terrorist organisation Islamic State, British media report.

In the video the blogger explains his act by saying that people have, in his view, treated too respectfully a politician who voted for the war in Iraq, and calls this a disgrace. He accompanies his words with an obscene gesture towards the monument.

Reaction from politicians and police

The act was sharply condemned by Conservative MP and former Home Secretary Priti Patel. On X she wrote that Amess was a respectful, kind and resilient defender of free speech who always discussed political disagreements with dignity. Defiling his memory in this way, she said, is appalling.

The blogger replied to Patel by asking why the country has a statue of a man who, he claims, bears part of the responsibility for the deaths of a million people. These words are his opinion, not an established fact.

According to the British press, police have received several complaints asking them to look into the matter. So far, the police have taken no action.

Who David Amess was

David Amess was a Conservative member of the British Parliament from 1983 to 2021. In 2003 he voted in favour of British armed forces taking part in the invasion of Iraq alongside the United States, Australia and Poland.

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz