Sir David Amess: Constituency neighbour James Duddridge says killed MP was 'great family man.'

The MP representing neighbouring Southend East has described Sir David Amess as a “great man”, and thanked the Prime Minister for announcing the move to city status.

Conservative MP James Duddridge, who represents Rochford and Southend East, described Roman Catholic Sir David as “a family man” and “a great man”.

He said: “David was a man of faith and convictions. Faith in his religion, and convictions in his politics. He was above and beyond everything else a family man, and a very funny man. He’d often break all the rules, cutting through pomp and ceremony, and connecting with people.”

Mr Duddridge, describing Sir David’s character, said the late MP would frequently make up stories when introducing him to others, for example introducing him as a lottery millionaire when attending a charity fundraiser. And he told “the story of boiled sweet”, describing how on a trip to the Vatican Sir David once accidentally had a boiled sweet blessed by the Pope.

Mr Duddridge thanked the Prime Minister for announcing that Southend will be made a city, saying “it means a lot to everybody, it really does”.

He said: “The impact of David’s death has been profound on the city. Southend are in shock. And I am in shock.”

He added: “I know this is going to be a long process. We don’t want to be the city where the MP was murdered”, and instead said he wanted Southend to be known for characteristics such as its pier, airport and football.