PC Keith Palmer: Deputy Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle says Westminster has lost 'one of our village policemen'
PC Keith Palmer was a husband, father and police officer of 15 years before his death
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle has lamented the death of hero PC Keith Palmer, telling how Westminster has lost “one of our village policemen”.
Mr Hoyle said PC Palmer had lost his life in a “hideous crime” while he was trying to keep colleagues safe.
His emotive words came moments before the Houses of Parliament held a minute’s silence in honour of those who died in the horrific attack on Wednesday, and as other tributes were held across London.
Mr Hoyle was in the Commons Chamber when the attacker ploughed his car through pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, before murdering PC Palmer and then being shot dead himself in front of shocked staff.
The Deputy Speaker said: “At this stage quite rightly as you would expect, my thoughts are with the members of the police force.
“Tragically we lost one of our village policemen. This is our village. You know, to lose a person we all know, so tragically, defending democracy, is not acceptable.”
The 48-year-old officer, a husband and father, had served in the Metropolitan Police Service for 15 years and was a member of the specialist parliamentary and diplomatic protection command.
He was a regular at the Parliament Square entrance and was known to many of the workers, journalists, MPs and others who come on to the parliamentary estate every day.
Mr Hoyle added: “Our thoughts go to his family and to the other victims of this hideous crime.
“And it’s that – people doing their duty to try and make the House of Commons safe, and he has lost his life serving us. That is a tragedy that should never have happened.”
Speaking outside Scotland Yard, acting deputy commissioner Mark Rowley, the Met's top anti-terror officer, said on Wednesday: “Today in Westminster we saw tragic events unfold and our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones, those who were injured and all those affected by this attack.
He added: “Keith, aged 48, had 15 years' service and was a husband and father.
“He was someone who left for work today expecting to return home at the end of his shift, and he had every right to expect that would happen.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments