Patel backs Southend-on-sea city status

MAKING Southend-on-sea a city would be a “wonderful” tribute to Sir David Amess, Priti Patel has said, as she joined calls to fulfil one of his longest-running campaigns as a local MP.

The Home Secretary yesterday backed the campaign along with Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the House of Commons Speaker, who said it would be the “biggest and greatest thing we can do for David”.

Southend is one of several towns competing for city status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022. As a local MP, Sir David was the most high-profile champion for Southend’s designation as a city and had been raising the case since 2000.

Asked about the campaign yesterday, Ms Patel said: “If you could see me now I’m smiling at that suggestion, because David was a wonderful advocate.

“People will decide about that but as I’ve said already this morning, one of the last [Parliamentary] questions he put forward was exactly about that. It would be a wonderful tribute to my dear friend David.”

Echoing her comments, Sir Lindsay said: “I would love to see Southend becoming a city, I think that’s the biggest and greatest thing we can do for David.”

Robert Buckland, the former justice secretary, added: “I think it would be a fitting tribute to David and I think next year the Platinum Jubilee is an opportunity for cities to be designated.

“Wouldn’t it be nice to have Southend marked in that way as a tribute to a dedicated public servant who literally gave his life in public service.”

The Queen is set to designate new cities in celebration of her Platinum Jubilee next year, with the Government in June asking local authorities to submit their bids.

After the most recent Cabinet reshuffle in September, Sir David joked to the House that he was left disappointed not to be made “minister with responsibility for granting city status to Southend”.