Three areas of the south trying to become cities

Which places are vying for the title?

Carisbrooke on the Isle of Wight from Carisbrooke Castle walls
Author: Jason BeckPublished 23rd Dec 2021
Last updated 23rd Dec 2021

Three areas of the south are in the running to be granted city status as part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

Bournemouth, Newport and Carisbrooke, and Dorchester will face competition from places as far away as the Cayman Islands, Gibraltar and the Falklands.

As part of their bids, applicants were asked to talk about the distinct identity and community which they feel means their area deserves to become a city, as well as evidence of links to royalty.

Unlike previous civic honours competitions, an expert panel will work closely with ministers to make their recommendations, which will then be approved by the Queen.

The final decision will be taken in spring 2022 and announced shortly afterwards.

Here are the places that applied for city status:

England

Alcester, Warwickshire

Blackburn, Lancashire

Bolsover, Derbyshire

Boston, Lincolnshire

Bournemouth, Dorset

Colchester, Essex

Crawley, West Sussex

Crewe, Cheshire

Doncaster, South Yorkshire

Dorchester, Dorset

Dudley, West Midlands

Goole, East Yorkshire

Guildford, Surrey

Marazion, Cornwall

Medway, Kent

Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire

Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire

Newport and Carisbrooke, Isle of Wight

Northampton, Northamptonshire

Reading, Berkshire

Warrington, Cheshire

Warwick, Warwickshire

Wales

Wrexham, Clwyd

Scotland

Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway

Dunfermline, Fife

Elgin, Moray

Greenock, Renfrewshire

Livingston, West Lothian

Oban, Argyll and Bute

St Andrews, Fife

South Ayrshire, Ayrshire and Arran

Northern Ireland

Ballymena, County Antrim

Bangor, County Down

Coleraine, County Londonderry

British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies

Douglas, Isle of Man

George Town, Cayman Islands

Gibraltar, Gibraltar

Peel, Isle of Man

Stanley, Falkland Islands

Cabinet Office minister Steve Barclay said it is "fitting" that the competition is extended to "include those parts of the world" which hold the Queen "so dearly".

He said: "Today's announcement is a celebration of the rich and diverse communities which make up not only the United Kingdom, but also our friends further afield in the Falklands, Gibraltar and the Cayman Islands.

"It's fitting that, as we look towards celebrating the 70-year reign of Her Majesty the Queen, we extend the competition to include those parts of the world which also hold her so dearly.

"City status is not only about local pride, it can deliver real levelling up benefits for businesses and the local area which is clear from the high number of applications. A sincere best of luck to all those who have applied."

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