List of British MPs killed in office

This is a list of sitting members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom (MPs) who died by assassination or other culpable homicide.

Spencer Perceval is the only British prime minister to have been assassinated, having been shot on 11 May 1812 by John Bellingham, a merchant who blamed the government for his debt. From 1882 to 1990, six MPs were assassinated by Irish nationalists. The murder of Jo Cox on 16 June 2016 was committed by a white supremacist; Cox was both the first female and the first Labour MP to be assassinated. The latest incident, the murder of Sir David Amess on 15 October 2021, was committed by an Islamist terrorist.

List DateVictim Party ConstituencyAssassin(s)Assassin's causeNotes11 May 1812Spencer PercevalToryNorthamptonJohn BellinghamLegal redressInsanityThe only serving Prime Minister of the United Kingdom to be assassinated, who was shot dead in the lobby of the House of Commons.6 May 1882Lord Frederick CavendishLiberalNorthern West Riding of YorkshireJames Carey and others (members of the Irish National Invincibles)Irish republicanismThe new Chief Secretary for Ireland had arrived that day in Dublin and was walking in the Phoenix Park from the Chief Secretary's Lodge to the Vice-Regal Lodge with T. H. Burke, the Under-Secretary for Ireland, when both were stabbed to death.22 June 1922Sir Henry WilsonUlster UnionistNorth DownReginald Dunne and Joseph O'Sullivan(members of the Irish Republican Army)Former distinguished British Army field marshal and Chief of the Imperial General Staff during World War I and advisor to the government of Northern Ireland. Shot outside his home in Eaton Square, London.30 March 1979Airey NeaveConservativeAbingdonMembers of the Irish National Liberation ArmyThe Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland; killed in a car bombing outside the Palace of Westminster.14 November 1981Robert BradfordUlster UnionistBelfast SouthMembers of the Provisional IRAShot at a constituents' surgery in Finaghy, Belfast.12 October 1984Sir Anthony BerryConservativeEnfield SouthgatePatrick Magee of the Provisional IRAKilled in the bombing of the Grand Brighton Hotel during the Conservative Party Conference.30 July 1990Ian GowEastbourneMembers of the Provisional IRAKilled by a car bomb near his home in East Sussex.16 June 2016Jo CoxLabourBatley and SpenThomas MairNeo-Nazi white supremacismShot and stabbed before a constituents' surgery in Birstall, West Yorkshire.15 October 2021Sir David AmessConservativeSouthend WestAli Harbi AliJihadism (Islamist extremism)Stabbed multiple times after arrival at a constituency surgery meeting in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex.

See also Records of members of parliament of the United Kingdom

References