Memorial to assassinated PM revived in Parliament

Spencer Perceval was shot by John Bellingham on May 11, 1812 in the lobby of the House of Commons on his way to attend an inquiry into the recent Luddite riots.

It is said his last words were: “Oh, I have been murdered.”

Four patterned floor tiles in Parliament said to mark the spot where Perceval fell were removed during recent renovation, leaving the historic event lacking a commemoration in the Palace of Westminster.

But Michael Ellis, the Conservative MP for Northampton North, took up the case in the House of Commons for a replacement as Perceval was previously a member for Northampton.

And he has now secured support from the parliamentary authorities for a plaque to be placed on the wall in St Stephen’s Hall, near to the location thought to mark the spot.

Mr Ellis, stressed it will not “cost much” to install the memorial which will be a “talking point for future generations”, and added: “It’s important to mark out history and this is one small way of doing that.”

He said he hoped the commemoration would be installed before the summer recess in July.

A House of Commons spokesman confirmed Speaker John Bercow has approved a plaque to mark the spot.