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UK Town of Culture
07 January 2026
Lead MP
Alex Ballinger
Halesowen
Lab
Responding Minister
Ian Murray
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Word Count: 13579
Other Contributors: 18
At a Glance
Alex Ballinger raised concerns about uk town of culture in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The MP calls for the UK Town of Culture competition to enable towns like Halesowen to showcase their unique heritage, support local culture through volunteering and investment, and highlight the cultural contributions made by diverse communities.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
The debate highlights the cultural richness and heritage of Halesowen, a town that has been a centre for British rock music with artists like Led Zeppelin and Slade. It also mentions the importance of historical landmarks such as the Black Country Living Museum and the Leasowes park which houses William Shenstone’s literary legacy. The MP emphasizes the need to recognize the cultural contributions of towns beyond major cities, focusing on practical intelligence, pride in workmanship, and community spirit.
Alex Ballinger
Lab
Walsall South
Expressed pleasure in hearing pitches about towns and cities, mentioned upcoming bank holiday plans influenced by the debate.
Amanda Hack
Lab
North West Leicestershire
Expressed hope that towns in her constituency would consider submitting to the UK town of culture competition.
Anna Dixon
Lab
Leeds North West
Shared highlights of Bradford's city of culture year, emphasizing community engagement and economic benefits. Congratulated Bradford council on its vision for applying to be the city of culture, illustrating that local authority leadership is crucial for success. Asked the Minister to meet and discuss securing the legacy of Bradford 2025, highlighting capital projects such as Bingley town hall creative workshop.
Chris Bloore
Lab
Redditch
Congratulates Alex Ballinger on his speech and highlights the cultural achievements of Redditch, mentioning Max Stokes's Villa On Tour YouTube channel with over 80,000 subscribers.
Connor Naismith
Lab
Crewe and Nantwich
Discussed Crewe's cultural revival and its bid for the UK town of culture competition.
Danny Kruger
Reform
East Wiltshire
Praised Amesbury's long history, emphasizing its role in heavy metal music due to Stonehenge and its status as the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in Britain. Advocated for recognition of historical importance.
Allison Gardner
Lab
Stoke-on-Trent South
Shone a spotlight on Longton, highlighting its rich pottery heritage and current cultural initiatives.
Ian Murray
Lab
Ayr South
Emphasized the importance of cultural heritage legacies for successful towns and applicants, reflecting on contributions made by other MPs regarding their local areas' cultural stories.
Jayne Kirkham
Lab/Co-op
Truro and Falmouth
Celebrated the distinct narrative of Cornwall, highlighting towns like Truro and Falmouth with rich histories, vibrant arts scenes, and cultural institutions. Urged support for the UK town of culture competition.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Proudly speaks about his constituency Strangford and highlights the cultural heritage of Newtownards and Comber. Emphasises the importance of local culture in bringing communities together.
Joe Robertson
SNP
Dunfermline and West Fife
He welcomed the UK town of culture initiative and praised its success in previous iterations, such as Hull's year as city of culture which generated an estimated £300 million for the local economy. Discussed the financial risks faced by smaller towns in bidding and asked if the government would commit to supporting such authorities, particularly regarding funding guarantees for winners and runners-up.
Liz Jarvis
LD
Eastleigh
She recognised the economic benefits of cultural investment and highlighted Eastleigh's strong cultural offerings, including the Ageas Bowl cricket venue and The Point theatre. She criticised Conservative Hampshire county council for cutting funding to the Hampshire Cultural Trust by £600,000.
Matt Rodda
Lab
Reading Central
Highlighted Reading's cultural heritage, focusing on Reading Gaol and literary connections to figures like Jane Austen.
Patrick Hurley
Lab
Southport
Mr Hurley shared his experience from Prescot where an Elizabethan-style theatre was built on a former bus stop, leading to significant economic and social transformation. He emphasized that cultural infrastructure can reverse the decline of towns.
Sam Rushworth
Lab
Bishop Auckland
Discussed Bishop Auckland's rich history, including faith, industry, arts, and sports.
Sarah Green
LD
Chesham and Amersham
Ms Green expressed enthusiasm for the Town of Culture initiative as it brings attention to smaller towns, boosts local pride, supports high street recovery, and creates employment opportunities in the creative sector.
Tony Vaughan
Lab
Folkestone and Hythe
Emphasized Folkestone's transformation through arts and culture as an example of economic regeneration linking past to future.
Vikki Slade
LD
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Celebrated the cultural richness of Dorset, including literature and festivals, while emphasizing the importance of culture in town regeneration.
Government Response
Ian Murray
The Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Arts
Government Response
Acknowledged the debate as a lobbying effort from MPs highlighting various cultural initiatives in their constituencies. Paid tribute to local projects and individuals driving cultural heritage and expressed hope that the speech would serve as an application form for the Town of Culture competition. Announced the timeline for launching the UK Town of Culture competition, emphasizing its importance in celebrating town contributions to national culture through local stories.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.