BORIS Johnson has announced that the Queen has agreed Southend will be granted city status following the murder of MP Sir David Amess.

Sir David, who represented the Southend West constituency, was stabbed as he held a regular Friday meeting with constituents in Leigh-on-Sea.

Colleagues had previously said making Southend a city would be the “perfect tribute” to Sir David who had championed the bid for city status as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations next year.

MPs cheered in the Commons as the prime minister announced Southend “will be accorded the city status it so clearly deserves”.

Mr Johnson 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.

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

Prime Minister Boris Johnson leads tributes to Sir David Amess

Opening tributes to Sir David Amess, the Prime Minister told the House of Commons: “The passing of 72 hours has done little to numb the shock and sadness we all felt when we heard of the tragic and senseless death of Sir David Amess.

“This House has lost a steadfast servant, we’ve lost a dear friend and colleague, and Julia and her children have lost a loving husband and devoted father.

“Nothing I or anyone else can say can lessen the pain, the grief, the anger they must feel at this darkest of times.”

He added: “Sir David was taken from us in a contemptible act of violence striking at the core of what it is to be a member of this House, and violating both the sanctity of the church in which he was killed and the constituency surgery that is so essential to our representative democracy.

“But we will not allow the manner of Sir David’s death in any way to detract from his accomplishments as a politician or as a human being.

“Sir David was a patriot who believed passionately in this country, in its people and in its future. He was also one of the nicest, kindest and most gentle individuals ever to grace these benches.”

MORE NEWS:

Priti Patel on review of policing after MP Sir David Amess

Priti Patel said a review of policing for politicians is “concluding literally in the next few days” and pledged to update MPs.

The home secretary was also pressed by Labour to put in place a strategy to reduce the risk posed by lone attackers.

Ms Patel told the Commons: “Sadly we’ve seen too many lone attackers in previous years.

“There’s a great deal of work taking place.”

Ms Patel said discussions will continue and she went on to praise the intelligence and security agencies.