The huge UK town desperate to become a city – 140k population but keeps getting rejected
This UK town is the largest in its county, has a vibrant arts scene, and recently had a Premier League football team, but it still hasn't been given city status.
There are no formal requirements for a UK town or village to be given city status. Many believe that UK cities must have a cathedral or a population of a certain size, but city status is actually awarded by the monarch on the advice of ministers, and there are no set criteria for which places get the nod.
The lack of fixed conditions for city status in the UK means some rather large towns, which many presume are already cities, aren't recognised as such. Perhaps the best-known examples are towns like Reading, Luton and Northampton, which all have populations of over 200,000. Meanwhile, there are some cities with tiny populations, like St Davids with a population of 1750, and St Asaph with a population of less than 2000.
The perceived randomness of UK city status has led some places to feel under-recognised, like Ipswich in Suffolk. The town has made multiple applications to become a city, but has failed on every attempt.
The town, which is the largest in the county, has applied four times to become a city, most recently in 2021. Ipswich has a population of 139,600, and is known for its art as well as Ipswich Town Football Club. Last season, the club was even in the Premier League, but suffered relegation after a difficult campaign.
There has been fierce local debate over whether Ipswich should become a city. The town's bid to become a city in 2022 for the Platinum Jubilee was axed after former MP Tom Hunt refused to back it. In 2012, to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubliee, more towns were granted city status, but Ipswich did not apply. At the time, local Ipswich Town fans said they were pleased at the decision, as they were concerned their club would change its name.
"Ipswich City sounds stupid," Ipswich supporter Tim Edwards told the BBC. "ICFC is horrible. It sounds like a DIY store", he added.
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Despite not having city status, some local leaders are so confident of getting it that they want to apply to be the UK's City of Culture 2029.
The town's Labour MP Jack Abbott said he had spoken with the relevant ministers in January about Ipswich receiving the honour in four years' time. There have also been rumblings about Ipswich making a renewed bid for city status this year.
The MP said, according to Ipswich Star: "I am a long-time supporter of city status as it would help Ipswich attract more investment, boost tourism, and provide a real platform for change. While the opportunity may not come around again for a while, for a town of our size and history, city status makes sense. Essex now has three cities; Suffolk should have one too!"
