Oral Answers to Questions

Luke Murphy Excerpts

Thursday 15th January 2026 Commons Chamber

[Anna Dixon (Shipley) (Lab)]

4. What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the new town of culture and UK city of culture 2029 competitions support communities.

[Luke Murphy (Basingstoke) (Lab)]

11. What steps her Department is taking to help ensure that the new town of culture and UK city of culture 2029 competitions support communities.

[The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport (Lisa Nandy)]

I am really proud that this Government have launched the UK’s first ever town of culture competition. I hope Members from across the whole House can get behind this incredible competition, which will bring back into focus parts of our country that have been ignored, disrespected and not celebrated for far too long.

--- Later in debate ---

[Lisa Nandy]

My hon. Friend will know that I have visited Bradford several times since becoming Secretary of State, and we love it so much that you cannot keep us away—the Minister, my hon. Friend the Member for Barnsley South (Stephanie Peacock), will be in Bradford this afternoon. Bradford city of culture has been a runaway success in increasing the amount of local pride that people feel in their communities. Four out of five people in Bradford say that the year of culture has had a lasting impact on them and their city, but that is not all: it has managed to attract record visitor numbers, showing exactly what Bradford can do. We want that for our towns across the country, and we are using Bradford as a template for how to do it.

[Luke Murphy]

Basingstoke has a rich cultural heritage, from world-class venues such as the Anvil and the Haymarket, to creative spaces such as Proteus Creation Space, heritage sites such as Basing House and wonderful museums such as Milestones and the Willis Museum. It has also been the home and shaped the lives of Jane Austen and Thomas Burberry. Does the Secretary of State therefore agree that Basingstoke would be a highly deserving winner of the town of culture 2029 competition? If she cannot endorse that, will she at least join me in calling on Basingstoke council to work with me in submitting a bid?

[Lisa Nandy]

My hon. Friend has just laid down the gauntlet for everyone else in this Chamber—I look forward to hearing their pitches too. He is absolutely right to say that Basingstoke has an amazing and rich culture. In advance of today, I was looking at some of the things that Basingstoke has to offer. As well as the Willis Museum and being the birthplace and home of Jane Austen, it also appears to be home to the world’s oldest wedding cake, which was news to me. I am looking forward to seeing his bid. I admire his competitive spirit, and I am sure that he will put up a staunch challenge that others will want to meet.