Essex MPs back Colchester's bid for city status
The town is in the running to be named a city as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations
Seventeen Essex MPs have signed a letter to the government backing Colchester's bid for city status.
The local council submitted a bid last year for the town to be officially named as a city, as part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Colchester is one of 38 other towns across the UK in the running, with places like Crewe in Cheshire and Boston in Lincolnshire also on the list.
Southend is already set to become a city this year in memory of former MP Sir David Amess.
Our local representatives in parliament have written to the Cabinet Office in a bid to boost Colchester's application.
The MPs say that “Colchester is a regional powerhouse for culture and tourism, and it is also fast becoming a major modern hub for business, tech and innovation, with the internationally renowned University of Essex, as well as forward funded 5G and superfast internet infrastructure.
“The community has a proud centuries-long tradition of welcoming people fleeing persecution and, to this day, it does so as a Borough of Sanctuary, recently welcoming refugees from Syria and Afghanistan.”
“City Status will not only benefit Colchester but the wider Essex region and UK economy overall. Essex is the engine of the UK economy and together we want to celebrate all that we have and all that we wish to achieve for future generations in our proud region."
Colchester previously submitted bids for city status in 1992 for Her Majesty's Ruby Anniversary; in 2000 to mark the Millennium; in 2002 for Her Majesty's Golden Jubilee and in 2012 for Her Majesty's Diamond Jubilee.
The 17 Essex MPs who have signed the letter calling on Colchester to be awarded city status are:
Will Quince, MP for Colchester
Sir Bernard Jenkin, MP for Harwich & North Essex
Rt Hon Priti Patel, MP for Witham
Stephen Metcalfe, MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock
Vicky Ford, MP for Chelmsford
Alex Burghart, MP for Brentwood and Ongar
Rebecca Harris, MP for Castle Point
John Baron, MP for Basildon and Billericay
Rt Hon. James Cleverly, MP for Braintree
Rt Hon. John Whittingdale, MP for Maldon
Rt Hon. Robert Halfon, MP for Harlow
Giles Watling, MP for Clacton
James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East
Jackie Doyle-Price, MP for Thurrock
Rt Hon. Mark Francois, MP for Rayleigh and Wickford
Kemi Badenoch, MP for Saffron Walden
Eleanor Laing, MP for Epping Forest