Date announced for Southend West by-election
Constituents will go to polls on February 3 to elect the successor to Sir David Amess
Last updated 6th Jan 2022
It has been confirmed that the by-election for Southend West, the seat vacated following the death of Sir David Amess, will be held on February 3.
Sir David was stabbed fatally on October 15 last year while attending a constituency surgery in Leigh-on-Sea. Last month, it was confirmed that Sevenoaks councillor Anna Firth will be the Conservative candidate for the by-election.
Both the Labour party and the Liberal Democrats have announced that they will not be standing a candidate, as a mark of respect for the late MP, in whose honour Southend-on-Sea was made a city.
The seat has been a Conservative stronghold, with Sir David representing the constituency since 1997.
Born in Leigh-on-Sea, Anna Firth has represented the Brasted, Chevening & Sundridge ward in Sevenoaks District Council since 2019. If elected, she will become the fourth MP to hold the Southend West seat.