Southend-on Sea will be given its city status in honour of its MP Sir David Amess who was stabbed to death.
Sir David, 69, had been a long-time campaigner to have the seaside town made a city.
He never missed an opportunity to push for its elevated status.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson told the House of Commons the Queen had given her consent.
He added:
“This country needs people like Sir David, this house needs people like Sir David and our politics needs people like Sir David.
“That Sir David spent almost 40 years in this house, but not one day in ministerial office tells you everything about where his priorities lay.
“He was not a man in awe of this chamber, nor a man who sought patronage or advancement, he simply wanted to serve the people of Essex. First in Basildon and then in Southend.
“It was in the act of serving his constituents that he so cruelly killed.
“When he died, he was doing what he firmly believed was the most important part of any MP’s job – offering help to those in need.
“Dedicated, passionate, firm in his beliefs but never anything less than respectful for those who thought differently.”
