Johnson said: “That Sir David spent almost 40 years in this House, but not one day in ministerial office, tells everything about where his priorities lay.”…reports Asian Lite News.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday announced the Queen has agreed Southend will be granted city status following the killing of MP Sir David Amess, the BBC reported.
David Amess, who was stabbed to death at Belfairs Methodist Church on Friday, regularly championed Southend’s case to be a city during his time in Parliament.
Leading the tributes to David Amess, the prime minister said he was happy” to announce Southend “will be accorded the city status it so clearly deserves”.
Johnson said: “That Sir David spent almost 40 years in this House, but not one day in ministerial office, tells everything about where his priorities lay.”
He added Sir David “never once witnessed any achievement by any resident of Southend that could not somehow be cited in his bid to secure city status for that distinguished town”, the BBC reported.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told Parliament he was “so pleased” by the announcement, adding that the news was “a fitting tribute to Sir David’s hard work”.
James Duddridge, who represents Rochford and Southend East, the constituency neighbouring Sir David’s Southend West seat, said the decision “means a lot to everybody”.
He said residents did not want Southend to be remembered as the city where Sir David was killed but ” for characteristics such as its pier, airport and football”.
Sir David, who championed Southend’s bid for city status as part of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022, was described by Home Secretary Priti Patel as “Mr Southend” following his death, BBC reported.
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