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MPs Tobias Ellwood and Ben Wallace appointed to Privy Council in honour of Westminster response

Bournemouth politician attempts to perform mouth-to-mouth on 48-year-old PC Keith Palmer as he lies bleeding from stab wounds

Harriet Agerholm
Friday 24 March 2017 16:35 EDT
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Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood (centre) helps emergency services attend to a police officer outside the Palace of Westminster, London, after a policeman was stabbed and his apparent attacker shot by officers in a major security incident at the Houses of Parliament
Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood (centre) helps emergency services attend to a police officer outside the Palace of Westminster, London, after a policeman was stabbed and his apparent attacker shot by officers in a major security incident at the Houses of Parliament (PA wire)

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Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, who battled to save the life of a police officer in the Westminster terror attack, has been appointed to the Privy Council alongside security minister Ben Wallace, in recognition of their roles in responding to the atrocity, Downing Street has announced.

No 10 said the Queen was "pleased" to approve the appointment of the two MPs to the council. The honour means Mr Ellwood and Mr Wallace will be entitled to be referred to as 'Right Honourable' and will be briefed on top-secret national security affairs.

Mr Ellwood, a foreign office minister who served in the British Army and reached the rank of captain, reportedly attempted to perform mouth-to-mouth on 48-year-old PC Keith Palmer as he lay bleeding from stab wounds.

Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood stands amongst the emergency services at the scene outside the Palace of Westminster, London, after policeman has been stabbed and his apparent attacker shot by officers in a major security incident at the Houses of Parliament
Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood stands amongst the emergency services at the scene outside the Palace of Westminster, London, after policeman has been stabbed and his apparent attacker shot by officers in a major security incident at the Houses of Parliament (PA wire)

The MP for Bournemouth East, whose brother died in Bali bombings of 2002, said he headed towards the incident “as soon as” he realised what was going on, but that despite extensive efforts by him and others to save the officer, his blood loss left little chance of survival.

The officer was fatally stabbed outside Parliament following a murderous rampage across Westminster Bridge, during which the attacker mounted the pavement and ploughed his car into pedestrians, killing four and injuring at least 50 others.

Images of the chaotic scenes outside Westminster Palace appeared to show Mr Ellwood pumping the officer's chest then standing above him, his hands and face smeared with blood.

The privy council is mainly composed of senior politicians, although it also includes judges and bishops, and has advised the monarch since the Norman era.

Theresa May on Thursday honoured the "extraordinary efforts" to save the life of PC Palmer, including those made by the Bournemouth MP.

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