Boris Johnson announces city status for Southend in honour of murdered MP Sir David Amess
Southend-on-Sea will be be given city status in honour of long-serving Essex MP Sir David Amess who was murdered on Friday, Boris Johnson today announced.
Amess, who was stabbed to death during a routine constituency surgery, had fought for decades for his constituency of Southend to be made a city.
“I’m happy to announce that Her Majesty has agreed that Southend will be accorded the city status it so clearly deserves,” Johnson told MPs.
“That Sir David spent almost 40 years in this house, but not one day in ministerial office tells you everything about where his priorities lay.
“He was not a man in awe of this chamber, nor a man who sought patronage or advancement, he simply wanted to serve the people of Essex. First in Basildon and then in Southend.
“It was in the act of serving his constituents that he so cruelly killed.”
More to follow