CAROLINE Lucas has offered her thoughts and prayers to an MP who has been stabbed outside a constituency surgery.

Sir David Amess, MP for Southend West, was stabbed repeatedly outside the surgery in Leigh-on-Sea. His condition is currently unknown and a man has been arrested.

The MP for Brighton Pavilion said on Twitter that news of the incident is "horrific" and passed on her thoughts and prayers to him, family and loved ones.

Reaction to the news has been coming from across the political spectrum.

Labour leader Keir Starmer described news of the attack as "deeply shocking," with former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith saying he is "praying for a full recovery following this appalling, shocking news."

"This angry violent behaviour cannot be tolerated in politics or any other walk of life," he added.

Sir David is one of the longest-serving MPs currently in parliament, being elected for the first time in 1983.

The news comes five years after the death of Labour MP Jo Cox, who was shot and stabbed to death before a constituency surgery.

Thomas Mair, a far-right extremist, was found guilty of her murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

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