Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what are the criteria for a town being considered for City status.

City status is a rare distinction conferred by The Queen acting on the advice of Ministers. Every application for city status is judged on its merits. Guidance for local authorities on the Platinum Jubilee Civic Honours Competition, which closes on 8 December, is published on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/platinum-jubilee-civic-honours-competition.

On Monday 18 October, the Prime Minister announced that Southend-on-Sea would be accorded city status in honour of Sir David Amess. This was made in exceptional circumstances and outside of the ongoing competition.