There remains an essential decency in British politics so absent in Australia today

In his tribute Boris Johnson announced that one of Sir David's enduring causes – granting city status to Southend – had been approved by The Queen on the recommendation of the government!

It is true that the nature Sir David's senseless and brutal murder inevitably added to the enormity of the occasion – but the underlying factor was his extraordinary service to his constituency and the House of Commons for the best part of four decades and his genuine goodwill for colleagues across the political divide.

Watching the wholly bipartisan outpouring of genuine grief at his death I contrasted how the House of Commons functions when compared with the House of Representatives today.

The contrast could not be greater. The Commons remains an essentially civil debating chamber where executive government is subjected to rigorous scrutiny and where the myriad of parliamentary committees operate on a robust bipartisan basis. The House of Representatives today simply fails to reach anywhere near those standards – though it once did.

I began listening to the Australian Parliament on ABC radio when I was still at school. At the time Sir Robert Menzies was at his zenith. He commanded question time but did so with a real measure of dignity and great humour. While government backbench questions were sometimes "Dorothy Dixers", on regular occasions they were not.

Sir Robert was supported by an array of highly competent and articular Ministers such as Jack McEwen, Harold Holt and Paul Hasluck. The government was often subject to searching questioning by the Labor Opposition, notably Gough Whitlam, Fred Daly and Clyde Cameron.

I find question time today generally bland, and far too structured. Interjections are not allowed. In the 1960's the interjections were a key part of the success of the cut and thrust of question time.

I recall the time Sir Robert told the House that he was being driven through Melbourne and a truck pulled up beside his car. The driver wound down the window as called out "good on you Bob!" The veteran Labor MP Jim Cope interjected – "He should have been charged with drink driving!"

There is little humour in the House of Representatives today – and not much bipartisanship.

Is it any wonder that public interest in our democratic processes is at an all time low?

It is not too late for MPs – and especially leaders – to turn that around. They could make a good start by reading the tributes to Sir David Amess in the House of Commons on Monday!

A wholly decent and humorous man with strong views but tolerant of those who differed and an advocate for good causes and a 38 year servant of his electors.