Tributes have been paid by island politicians to Sir David Amess MP who was fatally stabbed last week.

The Conservative MP, who had been in politics since 1983, was murdered while meeting constituents at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, on Friday.

Steve Rodan, former President of Tynwald, was ’shocked and saddened’ by the news.

He said: ’I met him several times during my time in Manx politics.

’He visited the Isle of Man when I was Speaker and I gave him a tour of Tynwald, and remember he was very impressed with the way we had maintained our parliamentary traditions (including my restoration of wearing the wig as Speaker) and was fascinated by our history as part of the British Isles but completely independent of Westminster.

’He had been a member of the all-party Westminster Manx Parliamentary Group, and was a friend of the island, without a doubt.

’I remember another time I participated in a workshop discussion with him at a Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference, youth unemployment being the subject, and the genuine passion he presented to the delegates, citing individual examples of the problem from his own constituency.

’He was a lovely man, in public life for the right reasons, and didn’t deserve this end.’

Meanwhile, the newly elected Chief Minister, Alfred Cannan, also expressed his condolences. Mr Cannan said: ’We are all shocked and deeply saddened by Sir David’s death following an attack at his constituency surgery.

’He was a friend of the island through his involvement with the Isle of Man All Party Parliamentary Group in Westminster and had previously visited the island.

’Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time.’

Ali Harbi Ali, a 25-year-old man, was arrested at the scene on suspicion of Mr Amess’s murder and remains in police custody.