Southend is great compared to other "dumps", says MP

David Amess David Amess

SOUTHEND’S rivals for the 2017 City of Culture title are “absolute dumps”, according to the town’s MP.

David Amess, the Tory MP for Southend West, launched a stunning attack on the other bidders for the mantle while espousing the highlights of his home town yesterday.

In a rambling radio monologue, Mr Amess said some of Southend’s competitors, which include Plymouth, Portsmouth and Leicester, “wouldn’t know culture if it was put in front of them”.

He said: “I have looked at some of the competition and I don’t want to be horrible to some of my colleagues, but frankly they are absolute dumps some of them.

“I don’t think they would know culture if it was put in front of them.

“I have to be careful what I say because I work with them, but one or two... I better not say more because I’ll get into trouble.

“But I really think it is Southend which jumps out.”

Southend Council chiefs revealed last week they were planning to bid for the City of Culture title, whose inaugural holder, Derry, is celebrating its year in the spotlight at the moment.

The competition was born out of the Labour Government’s desire to capitalise on Liverpool’s success as European Capital of Culture in 2008, and the coalition announced its intention to continue the scheme earlier this year. Southend was one of fourteen cities or urban areas which put their hands up last time, but failed to make the final shortlist of four.

However, Mr Amess claimed the town had been “under-rated and under-used” in the past, pointing out attractions such as the new cultural centre on the pier to support his argument.

He even claimed a successful bid for the title could be enough to bring the Brit Awards, the Baftas and even the Eurovision Song Contest to Southend in future years.

He said: “All the hard work has been done, so it will not cost us much at all. It will be a huge plus and in terms of the business attractions, it would mean so much.

“I can see us in years to come having the Eurovision Song Contest here, and the Brit Awards, and the Baftas.

“In the time I have been in politics, I have learnt there is no point remaining silent.”

Comments(34)

Shoebury_Cyclist says...
8:25am Fri 8 Mar 13

Stupid is as stupid does.

perini says...
8:27am Fri 8 Mar 13

In a rambling radio monologue, Mr Amess said some of Southend’s competitors, which include Plymouth, Portsmouth and Leicester, “wouldn’t know culture if it was put in front of them”.

..and Southend does?????? Chav city more like!

apapa palm says...
8:32am Fri 8 Mar 13

Blinkered comment, i guess he hasn't been round certain side streets and tower block territory.(No offence to those who live there btw) . Typical tory they believe everything that passes their lips.

supermadmax says...
8:42am Fri 8 Mar 13

Thats not a classy thing to say about competitors & will probably damage the bid.

"He even claimed a successful bid for the title could be enough to bring the Brit Awards, the Baftas and even the Eurovision Song Contest to Southend in future years."

& this comment sums up just how much MP's lie about things in general, he must be so use to making stupid, fabricated statements, that he thinks he can get away with anything.

"In a rambling radio monologue"

Either the Echo & hinting that he was drunk or this guy cannot control what he says, either way he is not the type of person who should be representing southend in parliament.

leighman says...
8:48am Fri 8 Mar 13

Very fitting picture composition,it just about sums up this brainless parasites 'job'.

Alekhine says...
9:08am Fri 8 Mar 13

This fool only ever opens his mouth to change foot.

Leighdweller says...
9:43am Fri 8 Mar 13

leighman wrote:
Very fitting picture composition,it just about sums up this brainless parasites 'job'.
You beat me to it.

Sir Peter Pantsless the 3rd says...
10:04am Fri 8 Mar 13

First of all Southend is a town, Does no one in the council, Amess, etc, remember the thousands wasted on the embarassing failed city status bid???

Second, do they not realise this bid is for 'City of Culture' status not 'Multiculture'?

Also aiming ill informed insults at such historical places as Plymouth & Portsmouth really shows how dum Amess really is.
Here is more proof (not that its needed) that Amess is the epitomy of 'Silver-Spooned-Buff
oon' and everthing that is wrong with a upperclass tory that doesnt live in the real world.

Cake anyone????

Public Inconvenience says...
10:07am Fri 8 Mar 13

Is he suggesting that Brits,Bafta's and Eurovision can be held in the tiny cultural centre? There is no new space available as SBC have built "affordable" flats on it...

alongtheway says...
10:52am Fri 8 Mar 13

Portsmouth has The Victory(Nelsons Flagship) It has The Mary Rose, It has a superb road network.It is known for its docks.
Plymouth has The Hoe, The Armada set sail from there
Oh, and Mr Amess, Southend has its iown dump- put at Shoebory by the Council. Better that!

Cosmo Spring says...
12:07pm Fri 8 Mar 13

alongtheway wrote:
Portsmouth has The Victory(Nelsons Flagship) It has The Mary Rose, It has a superb road network.It is known for its docks.
Plymouth has The Hoe, The Armada set sail from there
Oh, and Mr Amess, Southend has its iown dump- put at Shoebory by the Council. Better that!
bring back the Golden Hind....

whateverhappened says...
12:25pm Fri 8 Mar 13

In fairness Leicester is a dump. And should it not be londonderry in the article as opposed to derry.

Cosmo Spring says...
12:27pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Leighdweller wrote:
leighman wrote:
Very fitting picture composition,it just about sums up this brainless parasites 'job'.
You beat me to it.
he only likes it because it's a safe seat for him.

Any doubt that he might get re-elected and he'll run, like he did from Basildon

marshman says...
12:34pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Cosmo Spring wrote:
alongtheway wrote: Portsmouth has The Victory(Nelsons Flagship) It has The Mary Rose, It has a superb road network.It is known for its docks. Plymouth has The Hoe, The Armada set sail from there Oh, and Mr Amess, Southend has its iown dump- put at Shoebory by the Council. Better that!
bring back the Golden Hind....
Pompy's got The Ship Anson, Keppels Head and Gun Wharf Quays. Plymouth has The Union Rooms, The Walkabout and (my favourite) The Newmarket (if you've ever been in it you'll know why I like it). Visit them Mr Amess and you get a reminder of what British culture used to be. Visit similar pubs in town (Last Post, Sutton Arms, Slug and Lettuce) and you can sometimes play spot-the-Brit. Southend a city of culture? Multi-culture more like.

Bring back The Cork and Cheese.

emcee says...
1:41pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Quote some deluded MP: “I can see us in years to come having the Eurovision Song Contest here, and the Brit Awards, and the Baftas.
-
Hahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahaha
hahahahahahahahahaha
haha.

Alice in Her Own Land :P says...
1:55pm Fri 8 Mar 13

The last thing Southend would need or want is the Eurovision Song Contest. It is an abominable waste of money and in England's case, a pointless event.

Langdon Hillbilly says...
4:10pm Fri 8 Mar 13

He doesn't half spout some bile at times. Having been brought up in Plymouth and still a regular visitor AND having an enormous soft spot for Southend I can tell Mr Expenses that there is no comparison.

Plymouth's seafront - Plymouth Hoe - looks out over one of the biggest natural bays anywhere. Looking past Drake's Island, on one side you have the rolling hills of south east Cornwall and on the other, the South Hams of Devon not to mention Dartmoor to the rear.

Doesn't Southend's aspect take in Sheerness docks and Coryton?

Plymouth has hundreds of years of sea-faring history under its belt and still is home to the largest operational naval base in Europe - this despite the industry being decimated over the past 30 years; Drake, Hawkins, Reynolds, Nelson, Scott, Beryl Cook, Trevor Francis, Rippon, French, Sleep, Davies and Sinden to name but a few children of Plymouth; Paul Sturrock still has a base there!

Didn't Colin Ireland once live in Southend?

How about the Pilgrim Fathers or the Spanish Armada or the task force for the Falklands? Maybe the Blitz or the Citadel or the historic Barbican; goodness even Union Street and the numerous historic old pubs of Plymouth.

Doesn't Southend have Adventure Island and Amusement arcades?

Yeah, Amess, keep chuntering on, son, keep chuntering on. Mug.

jayman says...
4:19pm Fri 8 Mar 13

in the picture above. Amess has just been spending several hours with the big calculator putting in things like 5378008 and turning the calculator upside down. His Tory 'handlers' use it as a prop to keep him occupied and to prevent him from embarrassing the government.

Anyway.

Southend is now the most 'invested in' dump on the planet thanks to some sitcom-worthy capital investment spends and an arrogant and closed Tory council...

Tom from Southend says...
4:57pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Amess and Duddridge make a right pair, typical Tories. They are both at it at the monent !
Pleased I am not a Tory.

Shoebury_Cyclist says...
6:23pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Langdon Hillbilly wrote:
He doesn't half spout some bile at times. Having been brought up in Plymouth and still a regular visitor AND having an enormous soft spot for Southend I can tell Mr Expenses that there is no comparison.

Plymouth's seafront - Plymouth Hoe - looks out over one of the biggest natural bays anywhere. Looking past Drake's Island, on one side you have the rolling hills of south east Cornwall and on the other, the South Hams of Devon not to mention Dartmoor to the rear.

Doesn't Southend's aspect take in Sheerness docks and Coryton?

Plymouth has hundreds of years of sea-faring history under its belt and still is home to the largest operational naval base in Europe - this despite the industry being decimated over the past 30 years; Drake, Hawkins, Reynolds, Nelson, Scott, Beryl Cook, Trevor Francis, Rippon, French, Sleep, Davies and Sinden to name but a few children of Plymouth; Paul Sturrock still has a base there!

Didn't Colin Ireland once live in Southend?

How about the Pilgrim Fathers or the Spanish Armada or the task force for the Falklands? Maybe the Blitz or the Citadel or the historic Barbican; goodness even Union Street and the numerous historic old pubs of Plymouth.

Doesn't Southend have Adventure Island and Amusement arcades?

Yeah, Amess, keep chuntering on, son, keep chuntering on. Mug.
The pilgrim fathers may have sailed from Plymouth but they were from Billericay.

Langdon Hillbilly says...
6:45pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Shoebury_Cyclist wrote:
Langdon Hillbilly wrote:
He doesn't half spout some bile at times. Having been brought up in Plymouth and still a regular visitor AND having an enormous soft spot for Southend I can tell Mr Expenses that there is no comparison.

Plymouth's seafront - Plymouth Hoe - looks out over one of the biggest natural bays anywhere. Looking past Drake's Island, on one side you have the rolling hills of south east Cornwall and on the other, the South Hams of Devon not to mention Dartmoor to the rear.

Doesn't Southend's aspect take in Sheerness docks and Coryton?

Plymouth has hundreds of years of sea-faring history under its belt and still is home to the largest operational naval base in Europe - this despite the industry being decimated over the past 30 years; Drake, Hawkins, Reynolds, Nelson, Scott, Beryl Cook, Trevor Francis, Rippon, French, Sleep, Davies and Sinden to name but a few children of Plymouth; Paul Sturrock still has a base there!

Didn't Colin Ireland once live in Southend?

How about the Pilgrim Fathers or the Spanish Armada or the task force for the Falklands? Maybe the Blitz or the Citadel or the historic Barbican; goodness even Union Street and the numerous historic old pubs of Plymouth.

Doesn't Southend have Adventure Island and Amusement arcades?

Yeah, Amess, keep chuntering on, son, keep chuntering on. Mug.
The pilgrim fathers may have sailed from Plymouth but they were from Billericay.
Might have been a couple of families from the area but essentially the passengers were a mixed bunch mostly from the southern and eastern counties though there was a strong Dutch contingent aboard too. Little known fact: they were never meant to sail from Plymouth; they only did so because they had to call in en-route from Southampton to the Americas because the other ship on the voyage (the Speedwell) started taking on water (it was susequently abandoned in Plymouth).

Anyway...up the Argyle!

Rochford Rob says...
7:26pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Maybe he meant Southend was the best dump out of all the other dumps.

He'd be correct then wouldn't he?

Oh, and will people stop bleating about the council? It was voted for by a majority of the people. It's called democracy. I think.

Get over it losers.

Sad bitter losers.

southchurchroad says...
8:12pm Fri 8 Mar 13

The one thing that will actually get 95%+ of echo commenter's in agreement is that southend is a bloody dump- we just differ on why.

southchurchroad says...
8:15pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Rochford Rob wrote:
Maybe he meant Southend was the best dump out of all the other dumps.

He'd be correct then wouldn't he?

Oh, and will people stop bleating about the council? It was voted for by a majority of the people. It's called democracy. I think.

Get over it losers.

Sad bitter losers.
Oh yes, we had a choice of corrupt politicians with blue rosettes, corrupt politicians with red rosettes, corrupt politicians with yellow rosettes and a few other corrupt politicians with multicoloured rosettes. Truly a victory for democracy.

You do seem to spend a lot of time arguing with people you term "sad bitter losers", which brings up the rather obvious point of have you nothing better to do than associate with people you despise?

SUFC1906 says...
8:39pm Fri 8 Mar 13

Does'nt the notice board titled Money for Life along with his expenses calculator sum this individual's priorities up perfectly? He looks like he's working out how much more money he can make out of contributing nothing until the election. One things for certain, few of his constituents will be enjoying any Money for Life as his regime's tax rises wipe out the plebs.

Rochford Rob says...
9:04am Sat 9 Mar 13

southchurchroad wrote:
Rochford Rob wrote:
Maybe he meant Southend was the best dump out of all the other dumps.

He'd be correct then wouldn't he?

Oh, and will people stop bleating about the council? It was voted for by a majority of the people. It's called democracy. I think.

Get over it losers.

Sad bitter losers.
Oh yes, we had a choice of corrupt politicians with blue rosettes, corrupt politicians with red rosettes, corrupt politicians with yellow rosettes and a few other corrupt politicians with multicoloured rosettes. Truly a victory for democracy.

You do seem to spend a lot of time arguing with people you term "sad bitter losers", which brings up the rather obvious point of have you nothing better to do than associate with people you despise?
Show me where (in this thread) I used the word 'despise'

I have plenty of better things to do than have battles of wit with unarmed men.

But sometimes it passes spare time.

I notice you spend a lot of time here too BTW which makes you what exactly the owner, the man in charge? No? I thought not.

Another fellow loser like me I suppose. Have a nice day.

southchurchroad says...
10:00am Sat 9 Mar 13

Rochford Rob wrote:
southchurchroad wrote:
Rochford Rob wrote:
Maybe he meant Southend was the best dump out of all the other dumps.

He'd be correct then wouldn't he?

Oh, and will people stop bleating about the council? It was voted for by a majority of the people. It's called democracy. I think.

Get over it losers.

Sad bitter losers.
Oh yes, we had a choice of corrupt politicians with blue rosettes, corrupt politicians with red rosettes, corrupt politicians with yellow rosettes and a few other corrupt politicians with multicoloured rosettes. Truly a victory for democracy.

You do seem to spend a lot of time arguing with people you term "sad bitter losers", which brings up the rather obvious point of have you nothing better to do than associate with people you despise?
Show me where (in this thread) I used the word 'despise'

I have plenty of better things to do than have battles of wit with unarmed men.

But sometimes it passes spare time.

I notice you spend a lot of time here too BTW which makes you what exactly the owner, the man in charge? No? I thought not.

Another fellow loser like me I suppose. Have a nice day.
If calling people "sad bitter losers" isn't despising someone, then what is?

I enjoy spending a few minutes a day provoking people on the internet while seeing how many errors the echo can manage per article- it's not a big part of my day. Trolling the daily mail comments? now, there's some sport!

Karl S Zimmerman says...
1:27pm Sat 9 Mar 13

Had he been drinking?

Rochford Rob says...
2:02pm Sat 9 Mar 13

If calling people "sad bitter losers" isn't despising someone, then what is?

Well, it certainly ISN'T what you claim. You have misquoted me or lied or both.

Alleging a falsehood. Oh well, lots on here do it.

I consider visitng here akin to fishing, cast a line and see what gets hooked.

Like fishing in a barrel sometimes. So easy.

jolllyboy says...
6:49pm Sat 9 Mar 13

Obviously he has not been in the town long enough to have a good look around lately , away on his freebees. What is left of our culture then Mr Ames.?

southend brummie says...
9:22pm Sat 9 Mar 13

Other towns may be dumps (and other commentators have expessed doubts about this) but they all have better MPs than Southend.

Mr Amess is one of the worst MPs in the country, self-regarding, self-obsessed, and completely shameless.

Carnabackable says...
2:53pm Sun 10 Mar 13

emcee wrote:
Quote some deluded MP: “I can see us in years to come having the Eurovision Song Contest here, and the Brit Awards, and the Baftas.
-
Hahahahahahahahahaha

hahahahahahahahahaha

hahahahahahahahahaha

haha.
How about the Oscars, beats going all the way to canes

southendfanman says...
12:49am Tue 12 Mar 13

Southend is hardly a place of culture

DogsMessInLeigh says...
9:47am Wed 13 Mar 13

wonder if other places in the running have as much dogs shiiite as we do.

click2find

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