Image source, PA Media

Earlier, Boris Johnson announced Southend-on-Sea will be given city status - in honour of Sir David Amess, who had long campaigned for the change.

Downing Street says the award of city status to Southend is a "very rare honour".

"This was an exceptional circumstance," the PM's official spokesman says.

The definition of a city in the UK is a place that has been granted city status by the monarch. That status is purely honorific and confers no additional powers, functions or funding.

Vicky Ford, the Conservative MP for Chelmsford, tweets:, external "At this time of great sadness it is utterly fitting that Southend WILL become a City. Greetings from Chelmsford, Essex's other City."

Ian Gilbert, leader of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, says he feels a "mixture of emotions" after hearing the news.

He adds: "While I don't want it to have come in these circumstances, I'm still pleased and proud that it is happening."

Image source, PA Media

Former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith calls Sir David Amess "generous and kind" to colleagues who entered the House of Commons after him.

He reveals that Sir David once formed a conga with councillors and others when the Tories won Basildon council, saying his late colleague had a "mega-watt smile".

And Sir Iain says there "wasn't an alliance that [Sir David] couldn't form" with fellow MPs on any issue, telling the Commons: "He will be with us forever."

Susan Hulme
Parliamentary correspondent

Of course this was a sombre occasion at Westminster, with dark suits and black ties everywhere.

But Sir David Amess was certainly not a sombre man - and MPs remembered him with humour and affection.

They packed out the Commons chamber, standing in the doorway and sitting in the aisles to hear the tributes.

The PM recalled that behind Sir David's irresistible beaming smile lay a seasoned campaigner - whether it was for freedom for the people of Iran, or courting votes for the Westminster Dog of the Year contest.

There was clear emotion too, as MPs honoured both Sir David, and Jo Cox, the Labour MP murdered five years ago.

One fitting legacy for Sir David - the Queen has granted city status for Southend.

He'd called for it, slightly tongue-in-cheek, nearly every time he got to his feet in the Commons.

And that was greeted with cheers, applause and laughter on all sides.

Democratic Unionist Party leader, Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, says words can't adequately describe the heartfelt sympathy of the people of Northern Ireland for Sir David's family.

He says no-one will feel his loss more than his wife and children.

"David epitomised the true meaning of public service," he says, based on his "deep Christian faith".

"His greatest joy came not in holding office but in how he could use that office to instigate change," Donaldson says.

"Democracy faces a threat in these times and people from all parties in Northern Ireland have faced threats."

Tributes continue to be paid by MPs to their former colleague in Parliament. Here are some of those we have heard so far:

• PM Boris Johnson: "Sir David was a patriot who believed passionately in this country, in its people and in its future. He was also one of the nicest, kindest and most gentle individuals ever to grace these benches."
• Labour MP Harriet Harman: "My tribute to him will be to work in the spirit that he exemplified: commitment to constituency, commitment to Parliament, a belief that he could and did make a difference.”
• MP for Rochford and Southend East James Duddridge: “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."
• Former PM Theresa May: "He didn't just talk, he acted and went out there and changed people's lives because a backbencher who is dedicated can make a wonderful difference.”
• Conservative MP Mark Francois: "So farewell then, my colleague, my great friend, in fact, quite simply the best bloke I ever knew."

Andrew Rosindell, the Conservative MP for Romford, says that he and Sir David became friends instantly because they had the same background, being from Essex "or as some say East London".

He refers to Sir David's love of animals saying he "almost loved my dogs as much as I loved his dogs".

He says that Sir David lived for the people of Southend West and "sacrificed everything else to put his constituency first".

He says that to hold true to Sir David we must not let the "horrific" way he died "change our democracy".

"He was a fine example of a parliamentarian, a magnificent constituency MP, a true friend, a gentleman, a truly wonderful human being. We're going to miss him but I feel truly privileged to have known him," he says.

Image source, PA Media

Former Conservative prime minister Theresa May says laughter, service and compassion are three of the words that spring to her mind when she thinks about Sir David.

He had an extraordinary record of dedicated service to his constituents, he was deeply embedded in his constituency and championed it at every opportunity, she says.

He was "in the community and loved by the community" and it is fitting that his last act was one of service, May adds.

"He didn't just talk, he acted and went out there and changed people's lives because a backbencher who is dedicated can make a wonderful difference," she says.

Labour MP Mike Kane says Sir David Amess "looked good in a tuxedo" as he went from one evening function to another, raising awareness and funds for the causes he supported.

He was an "utterly, utterly wonderful man" who was devout in his Catholic beliefs, Kane adds, including caring for the poor.

Sir David died "doing the thing he loved", which was helping his constituents, he concludes.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey says he wants to reach across the House and say "we feel for you" to his Conservative colleagues.

He says that the affection from Lib Dem councillors in the Southend area for Sir David was "authentic".

He says that "every community needs champions like David".

"We don't have to agree with each other across our political divides but we can learn to be kind and warm even when we disagree, David was," he says.

Sir Ed also speaks of the loss of Andrew Pennington, a member of staff for Lib Dem MP Nigel Jones, who was killed in an attack in 2000.

He says staff and many in public service face abuse and threats on a regular basis and says "it is incumbent on us in this House to defend them all, I'm sure that is what David would want".

Sir Peter Bottomley, the Father of the House of Commons - the longest continuously serving male member - reminds the chamber that Sir David Amess is one of several MPs to have been killed over the past few decades.

He adds that Sir David's 38 years in Parliament had a "simplicity" in his desire to serve voters.

MPs are among those "at some risk" because of their public-facing duties, Sir Peter says, adding that they should receive the maximum possible protection.

Mother of the House, Labour's Harriet Harman, says the family of Sir David has shown "extraordinary dignity".

Sir David was one of the most dedicated and affable of MPs, she says, who looked beyond party differences "to work with so many of us, which is why there are tears on all sides of the House".

We all have examples of where he worked with us, she says.

She adds that he demonstrated a commitment to his constituency and to Parliament and truly believed he could make a difference.

James Duddridge, Sir David's Southend neighbour, goes on to say that "this is not the last of David, he lives on in us all".

"I don't think David would have called himself a mentor in this house but that's what he was by demonstration and osmosis," says the MP for Rochford and Southend East.

He describes Sir David's office as "part office, part museum of decades of political memorabilia, part pet shop". "It was an office like the politician - unique," he says.

He finishes by thanking Sir David's family for his service to Southend and reflects on their statement asking people to "show kindness and love to all".

Fellow Southend MP James Duddridge pays tribute to Sir David's humour.

He says that Sir David often introduced him inappropriately at events, including by saying "this is James, he's my neighbour, he's just got out of prison".

He shares one of Sir David's favourite anecdotes, which saw the late Southend West MP accidentally get a throat sweet blessed by the Pope at the Vatican, after pulling it out of his pocket at the wrong time.

When he would tell this tale, Sir David would then produce a sweet from his pocket and declare: "This is the sweet that was blessed!"

"I suspect that there have been many sweets passed off as the holy sweet," he adds.

Duddridge also thanks the prime minister for Southend's new city status.

This session, with MPs paying tribute to the late Sir David Amess, was opened by the prime minister.

If you missed what he said, you can watch it again here:

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford calls Sir David Amess "a great backbencher" and "above all else a good and simply decent man".

MPs are "being murdered while simply doing their job", he adds, mentioning the killing of Labour's Jo Cox in 2016.

Blackford urges the government to include MPs' staff in the security review following Sir David's death and calls on all politicians not to "feed into that corrosive culture" of personal criticism which leads to online abuse.

"All of our memories will be of a good man and a life well lived," he adds, concluding by saying: "God bless you, David."

Conservative MP Mark Francois is up next and says Sir David was his oldest and dearest friend in politics so he is "hurting greatly".

He says everything he learnt in politics came from Sir David.

He recalls being on the campaign trail with Sir David and, to laughter in the chamber, says one voter thought Sir David's surname was "Apes".

In recent years, Sir David was "appalled by the vile misogynistic abuse" female MPs had to endure.

MPs do their jobs to try to help people but they are vilified every day and "enough is enough" he adds.

The Online Harms Bill needs to be toughened up so Sir David did not die in vain he concludes.

Sir Keir goes on to say that Sir David Amess put his "own patch before his personal advancement" and was a political opponent "we can all learn so much from".

"I use that phrase political opponent very deliberately, because David held his beliefs very passionately but gently," he says. "And I believe that not only can we learn from that, but we have a duty to learn from that."

Sir Keir finishes by saying that a "cowardly attack" on a public servant doing his job is an "attack upon our country and our way of life".

Sir Keir Starmer praises Sir David Amess's work as parliamentarian and says he was a "dedicated constituency MP".

He says that he is "so pleased" that Southend will be made a city.

"It is a fitting tribute to Sir David's hard work, it really is," he says.

He goes on to say that Sir David delivered on the causes he championed - he "passed a bill that forced action on fuel poverty, he paved the way for better standards of fire safety and delivered protections for animal welfare".

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is up next. He says that each tribute to Sir David Amess paints its own picture of a "committed public servant, of kindness and of a man whose decency touched everybody who he met".

He says, taken together, these tributes are a powerful testimony to the respect, affection and love Sir David was held in across politics.

Sir Keir says that Sir David's loss is felt across the House and that "we are united in our grief".

He adds that he wants to reach across "to acknowledge the pain that is felt on the opposite benches".

Sir Keir goes on to say that he spoke to the parents of Jo Cox - the Labour MP who was killed in 2016 - on Friday "because I knew they would be reliving that terrible afternoon". He says they were thinking of Sir David's family and what they would be going through.

Sir David was so cruelly killed in the act of serving his constituents, says the PM.

In his recent memoirs, Sir David spoke of the great British tradition of people openly meeting their elected politicians, says Johnson.

"He refused to accept that he should be in any way deterred from speaking face-to-face with his constituents," he says.

"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," he says.

He calls Sir David "dedicated, passionate, firm in his beliefs but never anything less than respectful to those who thought differently."

Finally, he says, although his death leaves a vaccuum that cannot be filled, his memory will be cherished and never will acts of evil triumph over the Parliament he loved so much.