Bayo Alaba, Labour MP for Southend East and Rochford, and David Burton-Sampson, Labour MP for Southend West and Leigh, said their sympathies lay with students and staff, with 400 jobs set to be axed across the university in the next two years

The university said the call was due to "significant financial pressures", while the Unison trade union saying the university "can't recover" from cuts of this scale.

Mr Alaba said: “I know that the staff have worked hard to support students and have tried to avoid reaching this point.

“The news that approximately 200 staff face losing their jobs this academic year, and further reductions in the following year, will be deeply disconcerting for the community.

"Their efforts and dedication to Southend is greatly appreciated by myself and the city.”

Both MPs said theirs and Southend Council's priority would be to support the campus' 800 students with the move of their courses to the Colchester campus at the end of next summer.

Mr Burton-Sampson added: “There is a significant impact from losing 800 students in the city.

“I understand concerns that fewer degree level qualifications will be available locally to students here.

“The priority must be ensuring the continuity of studies for those already engaged in their degrees."

With the campus set to close, Mr Alaba said he would work alongside university leadership and Southend Council to ensure the campus building in the city centre would "benefit" residents.

Daniel Cowan, Labour leader of Southend Council, said: “We are disappointed by the University of Essex’s decision.

"However, I must stress that our city remains perfectly placed to play a major national role in higher education, business, and culture.

"With excellent connectivity, strong regional links, a thriving airport, and close proximity to London, Southend has the ambition and talent to drive growth, skills, and innovation for the whole region.”

Regional officers for Unison which represents staff at the university said the sweeping job cuts coupled with recent voluntary redundancies would irreparably damage the institution.

Unison Eastern regional officer Caroline Hennessy said: “The university can’t recover from cuts on this scale.

“Making a fifth of staff redundant, so soon after voluntary job losses, will seriously damage workers’ ability to deliver a first-class education to students. It means misery for those losing their roles, as well as the staff left to pick up the pieces.

“The university must do everything possible to save jobs, rather than carrying out mass redundancies."

Jordan Osserman, Co-president of the Essex UCU union representing University of Essex members said: "The closure of the Southend campus, and the announcement of 400 proposed redundancies across the University, is a devastating decision for staff, students, and the wider community.

"This announcement represents a profound failure of senior management, who have created this crisis through years of poor strategic choices.

"Rather than engaging with the viable alternatives we have repeatedly put forward, the University has chosen a path that will rip jobs out of Southend, uproot hundreds of students, and shrink higher education provision across Essex.

"We are absolutely committed to fighting these cuts and defending both our members and the future of the University in this region.”