Blackpool South MP Chris Webb tells House of Commons he is sure resort will be crowned City of Culture 2029

A Blackpool MP has offered his heartfelt thanks in the House of Commons to all those involved in helping the resort get shortlisted for City of Culture 2029.

Chris Webb, MP for Blackpool South, yesterday thanked all of Lancashire’s MPs for backing the bid as well as the hard work of Blackpool Council leader Councillor Lynn Williams, Blackpool Council’s Head of Strategy, Data and Corporate Development Scott Butterfield, council officers and Creative Blackpool in making the bid possible.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Webb said: “Mr Speaker, can I start by personally thanking you and every Lancashire MP across this House for joining us in backing our bid to become City of Culture for 2029.

“Thanks to the hard work of the leader of our council, Lynn Williams, Scott Butterfield, council officers, the Creative Blackpool, and all businesses, we're now on this shortlist, and I'm sure we're going to get the title. So will the leader of the House join me in thanking everyone that's been involved in this bid? And to say that Blackpool is the best place for City of Culture in 2029.

Alan Campbell, leader of the House of Commons, responded: “I do certainly join my honorable friend in congratulating Blackpool on being shortlisted for the UK City of Culture and all those involved. And I want to pay again particular praise for him in the fantastic work that he does in supporting the whole community in Blackpool, highlighting what a fantastic place it is.

“City of Culture is a great opportunity for our constituents to showcase the pride in their cities, and I wish all of them, all the shortlisted cities, the best of luck. But I have to be careful, I'm not going to be tempted to pick one from the list. But I congratulate all of them for having got this far, and I do wish Blackpool well.”

Details of the shortlist announced yesterday by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, has been met with huge optimism across Blackpool and the wider Fylde coast.

Blackpool will now compete with Wrexham, Sheffield and Milton Keynes to win the accolade, which would mean a £10m, year-long celebration of arts and culture for local people to enjoy, creating new jobs and opportunities across the Fylde coast.

Working with the Arts Council England place partnership funded Creative Blackpool development group, Blackpool Council submitted the full bid in August.

The resort now has £125,000 to development elements of the bid before the final winner is announced in early 2027.

Almost 30,000 people from across the country, including leading celebrities and businesses, have all joined the call for Blackpool to be awarded the title.

In a special newsletter sent to all those who have backed the bid so far, Cllr Lynn Williams, leader of Blackpool Council said: “You ticked the box to support the bid, so thank you for your support, which has definitely made an impact in getting us to the next stage.

“When we first started talking about putting Blackpool forward for UK City of Culture 2029, I had real confidence in our town and what we could achieve. I believed in our people, our creativity and everything that makes Blackpool special. Seeing us now shortlisted we were right to go for it.

“Part of that confidence comes from the privilege I have of being responsible for Tourism, Arts and Culture at the Council. I get to see first-hand the passion, talent and imagination that exists across Blackpool. I meet our creatives, see the work our artists are doing and see what happens when people get the chance to take part in culture.

“I've seen the difference it can make, particularly for our young people. Getting involved in an arts project, performing on a stage, making something themselves or even visiting a gallery can open up new possibilities. It can build confidence, bring enjoyment, create friendships and start conversations that might never otherwise have happened. It can encourage people to see things differently, including how they see themselves and the place they live.

“I want everyone in Blackpool to have the opportunities and experiences that I have been fortunate enough to witness. That's a big part of why this bid matters to me. Culture shouldn't be something that feels out of reach or is just for other people. It belongs to all of us.

“It's also really important to me that people can enjoy culture without worrying about whether they can afford it. I don't believe the opportunity to experience great art, music and creativity should depend on how much money you have in your pocket. That's why I've been determined to make sure Blackpool people can enjoy places like Showtown for free, see incredible exhibitions at the Grundy, including work by artists like Claude Monet, without paying an entrance fee, and experience world-class performers at events like.

She added: “For me, this bid has always been about much more than winning a title. It's about the people of Blackpool and the opportunities we can create for them. It's about inspiring our young people, supporting local talent, attracting investment and making sure our town gets the recognition it deserves.”