THE first ever Labour MP for Southend East and Rochford has pledged to breathe life back into Southend’s historic Kursaal building as he gave his maiden speech in Parliament after being elected.

Bayo Alaba thanked his predecessor, Conservative Sir James Duddridge, for his 19 years serving the community when he spoke for the first time in the Commons.

Mr Alaba pledged his support to the “Southend Renaissance” as he praised the city’s creativity, tourism and arts and highlighted the state of the “underused” Kursaal on the seafront.

The attraction sits empty on the seafront aside from a Tesco Express and earlier this year was ranked among the most “endangered” Victorian buildings in the UK in need of rescue.

Mr Alaba also highlighted the Freight House, which stands empty in Rochford, as he vowed to help both buildings “come back to life”.

“I am particularly proud to speak here today as the seat’s first ever Labour representative. It is a beautiful constituency rich in culture where you should bring your walking boots as well as your swimming costume,” he said.

“Southend is a place where past generations have gone in search of freedom and pleasure, and it’s hard in today’s world to think of a calling more important than this.

“The city is built with a blend, the discipline and dignity of the armed forces combined with the creativity and the freedom of the arts. A place for both the soldier and the singer.

“Coastal areas like mine have been on the economic sharp end for 30 or 40 years and the root cause of this is budget air travel, and that’s not going away.

“Many of the jewels in Southend’s crown, the Kursaal venue on the seafront, the Freight House in Rochford, remain unused or under-used.

“I’m determined that these buildings will come back to life again as part of our future.”

The Kursaal attraction, located on Southend seafront, first opened in July 1901 but now stand almost empty.

The Freight House, an events venue in Bradley Way, is currently closed and Rochford Council has no official plans to re-open it.

Residents banded together back in March this year to help “save” the Frieght House and ensure the landmark, which was first built in the 1890s, would not be turned into housing.

There has been community outcry to see the old building be put back into use, while Matt Dent, Southend councillor responsible for culture, tourism and business, has previously urged the need to save the site.