Robert Buckland has defended MP surgeries following the shocking death of Conservative colleague Sir David Amess, who was stabbed while meeting his own constituents. 

Speaking to David Lammy on LBC Radio, the former justice secretary said that direct contact with members of the public was vital for MPs but admitted that he often doesn’t feel safe. 

“We must maintain what I think is the crowning glory of our system, that direct contact between the MP and his or her constituents,” he said. 

“For me it is the absolute golden thread that is the essence of a representative democracy.”

The South Swindon MP talked about deliberately keeping to his usual routine following the incident to ensure he maintained that contact with the people he represents. 

“I’ve been out today, I deliberately stuck to my usual itinerary, I’ve been litter picking in different parts of my community, with friends and residents, talking to them, we were sharing the grief, sharing the shock," said Mr Buckland.

“It’s a great deal of strength to have those conversations and remember that for every one person like the murderer of Jo Cox or the perpetrator of this atrocity that there are thousands more who take a different view, who want to see their MP, who respect their Member of Parliament, whether they voted for them or not and want that contact.”

“That’s why I think, with adjustments, with the consideration for staff, let’s not forget the staff in all of this. I think that we must, and can, maintain that direct contact in surgeries or other occasions in the constituency when we’re out and about as well.”

Host and fellow MP Mr Lammy agreed but admitted that he doesn’t always feel safe

“You’re right to talk about the security we’ve got in our homes,” Mr Buckland added

“The threats that I’ve had, I’ve had to take matters to the police, it’s not something I want to do, but I feel strongly that my staff need to be supported and protected and I take threats.

"I’m afraid now, very, very seriously indeed, bearing in mind what’s happened to colleagues.

“My worry is is long term, what does it do to your politics, are we going to get the right people, the dedicated men and women, the dedicated people who want to come forward and serve their community?

“My worry off the back of all of this, is that it’s just going to put people off. People are going to think ‘why would I want to subject myself and my family to that level of abuse, and worse.

“I’m a huge optimist, I believe that the future is going to be better than the past, but I must say on days like this it’s a struggle in our hearts to reconcile what’s happened to David with an ideal to be reached, which is a healthy representative democracy, where people learn, not just to agree, but learn how to disagree with respect.”