UK MP remembered as one of 'most gentle people in politics

A British lawmaker since 1983 from the Conservatives' right wing, David Amess was a maverick but courteous Eurosceptic long before the party leadership embraced all-out opposition to the EU. Amess, who was stabbed to death on Friday at the age of 69, never made it to the front ranks of government. But his outspokenness and unfashionable opinions kept him in the media limelight, and his beaming face was a standout image from the Conservatives' shock election victory in 1992 under John Major. Video: AFP The successor to Margaret Thatcher, Major had been written off by most pundits. But when Amess retained his marginal seat of Basildon, east of London, it was clear that the opposition Labour party had fallen short. Major was plagued by revolts from Tory backbenchers opposed to his attempts to adopt the latest EU treaty. It was a portent of future battles.  By 2016, when Britain held its Brexit referendum, Amess and other anti-EU diehards were far closer to the Conservative mainstream.  Police and media near the crime scene. Video: AFP Amess, a Roman Catholic, also opposed abortion among other right-wing totems. But he was hard to categorise, and enjoyed respect in the House of...