The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
EU’S Juncker urged to step in over UK culture capital ban
Cities: MPS from five areas appeal for process to continue
Jean-claude Juncker has been urged to intervene to allow a British city to be named the European Capital of Culture despite Brexit.
British entrants for the 2023 honour have been deemed ineligible because the UK will not be part of the European Union or European Economic Area by then.
But in a letter to European Commission president Mr Juncker, MPS representing the five areas which have submitted bids for culture capital status urged him to allow the process to continue.
They told him: “We find it inexplicable that the European Union waited until after the bids from the UK had been submitted before ruling them all ineligible, when it has been aware of the UK decision since June 2016.
“Politics should not interfere with what is in many ways an event intended to bridge cultural and political divides.”
Five different UK bids were competing to host the 2023 European Capital of Culture, spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on their entries.
Dundee, Nottingham, Leeds, Milton Keynes and a joint Belfast-london derry strabane bid were all in the running for the accolade, which has the potential to provide a significant economic boost.
In the letter organised by Leeds West Labour MP Rachel Reeves, representatives from all five areas told Mr Juncker: “Parliament has always been clear that it wishes to remain close to the European Union and the exclusion of the UK from the bidding process is saddening.
“Having a capital of culture would be an excellent way of fostering this relationship and continuing cooperation after Brexit.”
The MPS said: “We politely remind you that the United Kingdom is still a member of the European Union and that no decision has yet been made as to what a future relationship will look like.”
The group have also written to Culture Secretary Karen Bradley to ask what can be done to resolve the situation.