A TORY MP has claimed Liz Truss is the right candidate to make David Amess proud and transform the city he represented for almost a quarter of a century.
In a column for the Daily Express, Anna Firth – who replaced Mr Amess as Southend West MP after he was killed – said she was determined to make Southend a place he would’ve been proud of.
And she insisted the way to make this happen was to give the keys to Number 10 to Truss, making the bold assumption Mr Amess would’ve supported her in the contest against Sunak.
Mr Amess served as an MP from 1983 until 2021 – originally as the representative for Basildon – before he was tragically murdered at a constituency surgery in Leigh-On-Sea last October.
Ali Harbi Ali, 25, was found guilty of murder and preparing terrorist acts in April and was sentenced to life imprisonment with a whole life order.
Firth insisted that Amess would have backed Truss, saying building the city he would’ve been proud of “means having the best prime minister to take our country forward”.
Southend was made a city in honour of Mr Amess after he died.
Firth said: “Earlier this year, Southend was made a city in memory of Sir David Amess and I am determined to make it a city my predecessor would be proud of.
“This means having the best prime minister to take our country forward. I have known Liz Truss for over 10 years. She is straight-talking, honest and determined. I have no doubt she shares our pride in our country and party.
“Liz wants to build an aspiration nation and she knows the best way to do that is by creating a competitive economy and a world-class education system.”
Firth then appeared to suggest Mr Amess only went to grammar school because of a “postcode lottery” the Conservatives have now started to break up.
“My mother’s mantra was that where you have come from is nowhere near as important as where you are going, a solid Conservative ethos.
“Sir David said that St Bonaventure’s Grammar School in Newham was the making of him. But sadly, the old education system’s postcode lottery also meant that many people weren’t lucky enough to attend a good or outstanding school.
“And as a former education minister, Liz knows everyone should have access to the best schools, regardless of their background with teaching that champions aspiration, opportunity, and excellence.
“Successive Conservative governments have made a roaring start breaking up this monopoly on our children’s futures by bringing in competition in the form of academies and free schools. Liz has committed to unleash a new wave of free schools to replace failing academies.
“I am putting my trust in Truss.”
