SOUTHEND is now a city after the Queen approved the “rare honour” following years of steadfast campaigning by Sir David Amess.

Her Majesty approved the civic honour as a touching tribute to the Southend West MP who was murdered while holding a constituency surgery in Leigh.

Sir David was a tireless champion for Southend city status and on Sunday, his grieving family urged the public to support his mission.

That plea was honoured yesterday as Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the Commons Southend is now a city following the gracious approval of the Queen.

The House of Commons erupted into applause as Mr Johnson opened a special Commons session where MPs on all sides fought back tears paying their own moving tributes to Sir David.

The Prime Minister said: “As it is only a short time since Sir David last put that very case to me in this chamber, I am happy to announce that Her Majesty has agreed that Southend will be accorded the city status it so clearly deserves.

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“That Sir David spent almost 40 years in this House, but not one day in ministerial office, tells everything about where his priorities lay.”

Southend Conservative leader, Tony Cox, said: “Sir David, your legacy will forever live on in Southend.

“I cannot thank Her Majesty the Queen and the Prime Minister enough for granting that legacy, but what truly breaks my heart is that he is not around to see it.

“I am sure he will be looking down on us now saying, ‘my work in Southend is now complete’.”John Lamb, Tory Southend councillor and former mayor, said: “It’s brilliant and I know this is what Sir David would have wanted to see.

“I am so pleased but very sad under the circumstances.

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It will help bring new investment for the town and help us market our town better internationally.”

Downing Street said the award of city status to Southend was a “very rare honour”.

“This was an exceptional circumstance,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said.

“It is a very rare honour which Sir David campaigned passionately for. He was a tireless champion of Southend, celebrating its achievements, the work of its residents and its thriving local businesses and diversity.”