Woman is charged over MP knife attack

East Ham MP Stephen Timms suffered two stab wounds to his stomach in the incident on Friday afternoon.

The 54-year-old is understood to have been attacked at the beginning on an interview with a constituent who had made an appointment to see him at the Beckton Globe Library, in Newham, east London, where he holds his surgeries.

Unemployed Roshonara Choudhary, 21, will appear before Stratford Magistrates' Court accused of trying to kill him. She is also charged with two counts of possession of an offensive weapon.

Mr Timms, a former Financial Secretary to the Treasury, underwent surgery on Friday and is said to be recovering well.

A spokesman at the Royal London Hospital said yesterday: "The operation went well. He is comfortable and resting on a ward. It is anticipated he will be discharged from hospital in the next few days to recuperate at home."

The incident has reignited concerns over the safety of MPs in their constituencies.

Parliamentarians were advised to implement appointment systems for surgeries after former Lib Dem MP for Cheltenham Nigel Jones was seriously injured and his assistant Andrew Pennington killed in a frenzied attack by a constituent in 2000.

Leader of the Commons Sir George Young will meet representatives of other parties and Commons authorities this week to discuss what action can be taken.