'Terrorism will never prevail over British values' - South Shields MP speaks out over Westminster attack

Emma Lewell-Buck has spoken out after the violence which claimed the lives of Pc Keith Palmer, Aysha Frade and US tourist Kurt Cochran were killed.

The attacker, who police have now named as Khalid Masood, 52, drove into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before crashing his car into railings outside Parliament and then running into the grounds armed with a knife. He stabbed PC Palmer and before being shot dead by another officer.

Islamic State has said it was behind the attack has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Mrs Lewell-Buck has said such terrorist acts would never triumph over British values.

"Terrorism will never prevail over the British values we all hold dear, free speech, liberty, human rights and tolerance. The very values that people witnessed yesterday when members of the public stopped to help the hurt and injured – this is the Britain I recognise, the Britain I am proud of," said Mrs Buck.

The MP praised the actions of the police and Parliamentary staff, and called for a fitting tribute to Pc Palmer.

"Yesterday the world saw how amazing and selfless our staff in the House of Commons and our emergency services are. We owe them a debt of gratitude, not just for yesterday, but for every single day," she said.

" I am very conscious of the fact that I, and all other members of Parliament, were able to go back to work today because of the bravery, courage and heroism of Pc Keith Palmer. He died protecting everyone in Parliament yesterday and his colleagues through their grief went on protecting us.

"Thank yous will never be enough and I hope that the House authorities find a fitting way of making sure he will always be remembered in Parliament.

"There are also another two people dead and around 40 people injured. My thoughts and prayers are firmly with those who have lost loved ones, those who are injured and with our Security Services and Police who are working diligently, as they always do, to protect us."