Bradford ‘City of Culture’ to generate ‘6,500 jobs’

A Minister has said the Government “believes in Bradford” during a debate on the merits of the City of Culture.

Two District MPs expressed differing views about Bradford’s designation as 2025 City of Culture during a debate at Parliament on the creative industries.

During the session Shipley MP Anna Dixon described the year as a “fantastic opportunity” for the District, while Keighley MP Robbie Moore questioned its benefits.

Mrs Dixon said: “This year, Bradford is the UK city of culture. This is a fantastic opportunity to show off the creative talent of our wider district, including the Shipley constituency, and it could be the springboard for unleashing the economic potential of our city and area, which for too long has been unrecognised.

“Can the Secretary of State assure me that the Government will help to secure the legacy of Bradford 2025 and support our creative industries to fuel economic growth?”

Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport replied: “May I say to my hon. Friend what a delight it was to visit her constituency with her, and to celebrate Bradford being the city of culture with Mayor Tracy Brabin and others recently in Bradford?

“My hon. Friend will know that we have committed £15 million for Bradford 2025.

“As part of that, we expect 6,000 training opportunities and 6,500 jobs to be created.

“I am sick and tired of seeing jobs created in parts of the country where children just down the road can no more dream of going to the moon than of getting those jobs. That is why we are investing in young people and the next generation so that they can become the storytellers of the next chapter of this country.”

Mr Moore replied: “In a statement released two months ago, the Government claimed that Bradford city of culture will generate £700 million of growth for the district by 2030, and that 6,500 new jobs will be created.

“About £40 million of taxpayers’ money has already been allocated to Bradford city of culture. Forty million pounds is, of course, the same as the financial black hole that Bradford Council faces as it cuts services to children with special educational needs and sells off local assets.

“The Centre for Cities says that the Government have massively overstated the economic benefit that being the city of culture brings. In the interests of transparency, will the Secretary of State release the impact assessment that was made to reach the £700 million figure and the job growth that they say will be created?

Mrs Nandy replied: “As the hon. Gentleman should know, the impact assessment was done under the last (Conservative) Government.

“I am slightly confused: is he against the city of culture, or does he just think that Bradford does not have a full contribution to make to this country’s cultural life?

“We believe in Bradford. We believe in its people, its history, its heritage and what it can contribute to the UK in the future.”