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'Pride' as town makes City of Culture list

George KingSuffolk
News imageBBC A head-and-shoulders shot of Jack Abbott, who has short brown hair and a short beard and is wearing a white shirt under a grey blazer. He is smiling into the camera.BBC
Ipswich's Labour MP, Jack Abbott, said he would treat himself to a drink after the town was named on the list

The campaign to make Ipswich the UK's City of Culture for 2029 has restored some local pride, one of the town's MPs said.

Suffolk's county town is one of nine locations which have made a long list of candidates.

The winner would be awarded £10m as part of the competition run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). While Ipswich is not a city, the DCMS has said bidding is "not restricted to cities".

Labour MP for Ipswich Jack Abbott said: "This is a real sign that we can compete in competitions like this and that we should go for this sort of stuff because we want to put Ipswich on the map."

Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham join Ipswich on the long list.

Bradford currently holds the status.

News imageChunyip Wong/Getty Images An aerial image of Ipswich showing the quay surrounded by residential buildings and trees. The sky is blue with few clouds in it.Chunyip Wong/Getty Images
Ipswich will receive £60,000 to assist with the campaign

Abbott told the BBC he was "absolutely delighted".

"It'd be amazing to win and to get the £10m but actually much, much more significant than that, is how we brought our town together and restored hope," he said.

"I'm really proud of our town. I know the potential it's got, and I wouldn't be walking us up this hill if I didn't think we were absolutely within a shot to do it."

News imageLee Walker. He is looking past the camera while smiling. He is wearing a burgundy jumper and standing in front of a wall on which there are various framed images.
Lee Walker, chief executive of Ipswich Central, said it was a "privilege" to be part of the town's City of Culture bid

Over the next few months, the team from Ipswich will try to raise the town's profile with private sponsorship in the hope of making the final-four shortlist, which is expected in September.

Lee Walker, chief executive of Ipswich Central, said it was the "privilege of a lifetime" to work on something as big as the bid.

Ipswich Central is the business improvement company for the town centre.

He said: "It really is a testament to all the work that is already going on. What a great stage to put Ipswich on and what an amazing moment to reach this stage."

The nine long-listed places will receive £60,000 to help develop their bids for the competition.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said: "For far too long, opportunity has not been shared equally across the country.

"The UK City of Culture competition recognises the enormous contributions made by communities all over the UK who are all part of the story of who we are as a nation."

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