Perth city retrouve son statut

Perth wins Diamond Jubilee contest to be named seventh Scottish city

Perth will become Scotland's seventh city after winning a UK competition marking the Queen's Diamond Jubilee.

The town based its bid on Perth's history as Scotland's first
capital. Its city status was removed in 1975 as part of a local
government shake-up.

Perth was one of 25 towns across the UK which applied for the civic honour in the jubilee competition.

Two other UK towns, Chelmsford in England and St Asaph in Wales, will also become cities.

Before the announcement there were 66 cities in the UK - 50
in England, five in Wales, six in Scotland and five in Northern Ireland.

Scotland's other cities are Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness and Stirling.

Dr John Hulbert, provost of Perth and Kinross Council, said:
"I am delighted that official city status has been restored to Perth.
Everyone in the council shares my excitement at the prospect of a
glorious new chapter in Perth's long history.
"The City and Royal Burgh of Perth was the
capital of Scotland from the 9th Century until 1437, and then officially
the second city of Scotland until 1975.

"Even although city status was summarily removed when local
government was reorganised, Perth has continued to be known as the 'Fair
City'. Full restoration of its ancient dignity is long overdue."

Local MSPs and MPs also welcomed the announcement that Perth had been one of the three towns to win the competition.

Perth and North Perthshire SNP MP Pete Wishart praised the success of a "brilliant campaign".

"This is fantastic news for the fair city. Perth and the
whole community will be celebrating news that we have regained our city
status," he said.

"It is great to have secured this official recognition from
the Queen as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations - Perth is a jewel
in the crown."

And the Conservative MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, Murdo
Fraser, said Perth's new status would benefit the whole of Perth and
Kinross.

He said: "It is welcome news for the whole of Scotland that Perth has gained city status.

"Perth can rightly call itself the City of Perth and it has a bright future as one of Scotland's seven cities."

Golden charter
Perth and Kinross Council made a 50-page submission to the UK
government, detailing Perth's ambition to be a "truly dynamic
international city", with messages of support from First Minister Alex
Salmond and other prominent leaders in Scotland.

Perth, which celebrated its 800th anniversary last year, was
an "ecclesiastical city" because it had a cathedral but was legally
considered a town.

Perth and Kinross Council launched a claim for formal city
status in 2005 after a search of its archives uncovered the "Golden
Charter" of 1600 to back its claim.

City status is a reserved matter and is granted by the Queen under royal prerogative on advice from ministers.