A 25-year-old man has been charged with the murder of British MP David Amess, after the politician was stabbed to death last week, the UK's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has announced.

Ali Harbi Ali was arrested and detained in custody following the killing in Leigh-on-Sea on Friday. 

Ali has also been charged with the preparation of terrorist acts after the MP died from "serious injuries" at the church where he was meeting voters from his constituency.

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Amess, a 69-year-old Conservative, was the second UK politician to be killed in the past five years, after Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered near Leeds in northern England in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum in June 2016.

Amess's killing has sparked an outpouring of tributes from his parliamentary colleagues, as well as a conversation about the security of elected representatives.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said on Wednesday that intelligence officers had increased the threat level for politicians to "substantial."

Patel, a friend of Amess, said his killing was "an attack on our democracy." 

The death has added fire to an ongoing debate over ending divisive rhetoric in politics, which is thought to have in intensified since the UK voted to leave the European Union. 

Amess's family last weekend called for greater tolerance, while several MPs shared their experiences of receiving death threats and a stream of abuse.

"Set aside hatred and work together towards togetherness. Whatever one's race, religious or political beliefs, be tolerant and try to understand," the family urged in a statement.

According to the head of the CPS special crime and counter-terrorism unit, Nick Price, lawyers will state that Amess's killing "has a terrorist connection, namely that it had both religious and ideological motivations."

Police have searched several London addresses in relation to the case, while forensic examinations were conducted on digital devices and the footage from security cameras was also reviewed, according to Matt Jukes, assistant commissioner for specialist operations for London's Metropolitan police force.

Jukes also confirmed that security arrangements for all of Britain's 650 MPs were under consideration. Jukes warned against further speculation due to strict reporting restrictions now in place before the trial.