Sir David Ames: Bid For City Of Southend Would Be "Real Tribute" To MP Stabbed To Death.

He defended Southend's candidacy for city status as part of the Platinum Queen's Birthday celebrations in 2022. Home Affairs Minister Priti Patel referred to him as Mr. Southend and said his heartwarming passion for the city.

"If David's name is mentioned in the future, it will bring a great vibe and smile," he told the Andrew Marr Show on Sunday. He was Mr. Southend; he was Mr. Essex; he always put Southend front and center in his work and as long as it was David." I think it would be a very fitting tribute to Sir David, especially as he has been a long-time supporter of it," said James Corten, a conservative adviser to Southend City Council.

"I wouldn't be surprised if some of his Westminster colleagues did the same, because every time, I think, he stands in Parliament asking if Southend can become a city. " "Southend welcomes millions of people every year, has a very successful arts festival and an incredible wealth of talent. So you name it - that's what the club is for."

He said Sir David's murder was a "true tragedy" and described him as "a cheerful man, hilarious, especially a constituency MP who reached out to a lot of people." Announcing the offer, Sir David said, "Southend is unique, and the city's status will be a long-overdue acknowledgment of our request.

The world's longest entertainment pier, an incredible wealth of local talent in the arts and culture industry, also a center of excellence for education are just a few of the things that make Southend so unique.

Southend's city council is currently led by a coalition of Labor, Liberal Democrats, and an independent city council - while the Conservatives own most of the city council.

It became a unified body in 1998 and had a population of over 183,000 people. Chelmsford became Essex's first city in 2012 as part of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Just an hour on the A12, Colchester - once the capital of Roman England - just offered to become the city on its fourth attempt, as did Milton Keynes.