Fitting memorial Give Southend city status in honour of his works, say MPS

Southend should be given city status in honour of a decades-long campaign of Sir David Amess, who died yesterday, MPS have said.

The Queen will designate new cities to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee next year, and a competition for local authorities to put forward their towns for city status opened in June.

Sir David Amess campaigned for many years for Southend to be given city status.

His death yesterday prompted MPS to argue that the town should be upgraded in honour of his life and work.

Michael Fabricant, a Conservative backbencher, said: “David campaigned for so many wonderful things including animal welfare and to make Southend a city.

“That would be a fitting memorial.”

Victoria Prentis, a government minister, said of Sir David’s campaigns: “No one could have done more for his constituents.

“We all know that Southend should be a city.”

In response to a tweet suggesting Southend be given city status, the Labour MP Charlotte Nichols said: “Absolutely; I can’t think of a better way to honour his memory.”

In one debate, Sir David Amess said: “Southend becoming a city would be of enormous benefit in terms of attracting investment post-brexit.

“There are many potential building projects and renovations that would fit perfectly into Southend becoming a city.”