The Queen has agreed Southend will be granted city status following the killing of MP Sir David Amess, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has revealed on Monday.

Sir David was stabbed to death at Belfairs Methodist Church on Friday.

He regularly championed Southend’s case to be a city during his time in Parliament.

Johnson told the House of Commons he was “happy” to announce Southend “will be accorded the city status it so clearly deserves”.

The prime minister 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 status for that distinguished town”.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer told Parliament he was “so pleased” by the announcement.

Sir Keir said the news is “a fitting tribute to Sir David’s hard work”.

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.

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.