Get to know Anna Firth – MP for Southend West

But the 55-year-old Conservative politician took time out of her schedule to reflect on her role as successor to the much-missed Sir David Amess.

Sir David left a huge void when he was killed during a constituency surgery last year. And Ms Firth soon discovered that his popularity was not restricted to voters in Southend West.

She said: “Succeeding Sir David, I became the official guardian of a five-inch African yellow lab cichlid - a type of goldfish - called Norman!”

Proud - Anna Firth, Southend West MP

“At his peak Sir David had six aquariums, seven birds, two turtles and a crab in his office,” she said. “Sir David really did have all the security on his side.

“However, I can confirm that Norman has made the trip over to my tiny new MP’s office and his tank now takes up well over half of my only window ledge.”

And that was not the only surprise she faced in her first days at Westminster. The former barrister says the jeering and shouting during debates in the chamber posed a culture shock compared to the restrained manner of legal arguments.

She said: “Speaking in the Chamber is a work of art about which new MPs are given no training whatsoever. The huge hubbub, back-talking and jeering, especially during PMQs on both sides, is extremely off-putting and of questionable value.

Campaigning - Anna meets with residents over speeding fears.

“Coming from the legal profession where one trains for years to represent clients in court in an atmosphere of silence, reverence and respect, this seems extremely odd, if not totally at odds with intelligent, considered debate.

“The array of new people and processes that new MPs are expected to get to grips with is overwhelming and being in a class of one is not easy.”

Nonetheless Ms Firth said that the new role had already been a thrill, adding: “Turning up in the Palace of Westminster on my first Monday was one of the most unforgettable and awe-inspiring days of my life.

Working together - Anna with Sajid Javid and James Duddridge.

“Walking into the Chamber to take the oath of allegiance was terrifying, certainly on a par with getting married and childbirth.”

And with so much to learn on the job, she could not have found herself taking up the role at a more demanding moment.

She said: “There could barely be a more challenging time to join Parliament with daily urgent statements on Covid, flooding, and Ukraine. But it is still incredibly satisfying to be able to raise with ministers some of the issues that matter to Southend residents.”

City status - The newly elected MP wants Southend to become a leading city.

Ms Firth says her aims for the coming years are to help Southend grow to become “the best seaside city in the country” by emulating the success of Leigh Broadway across the borough’s various high streets.

“Leigh Broadway is a spectacular success and we must have more independent shops than any high street I can think of in Essex,” she added.

“There is not a single chain store or restaurant, which gives it such a fantastic character, and I would like to see us spread that out and regenerate other high streets in that style.”

Celebration - Anna celebrates city status.