What criteria are used to grant city status within the UK?

Officially and contrary to popular belief, there are no specific criteria for granting city status in the United Kingdom, although in the past the status was awarded to towns with a diocesan cathedral. As far back as history has been recorded, city status has been conferred by a royal charter, but there are a number of cities whose city status predates historic records. In present times, city status is granted by the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II.

To most people, the word 'city' confers a large and densely populated urban area. However there are a number of UK cities which are no bigger than average towns or even villages. Most notably, St David's in Pembrokeshire, Wales is the smallest city in the United Kingdom with a population of just 2000. The city is so small that it lies entirely within a national park, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Other small cities include Wells in Somerset with a population of 10000 and Ely in Cambridgeshire with a population of around 14000.

By contrast there are several large and densely populated urban areas in the United Kingdom which are not officially cities, that is which have no city charter. These fall into two groups:

• Conurbations, large urban areas which include cities, but which are not officially designated a city as a composite
• Large towns, which have not been granted city status

The most notable example of the former group is is London (Greater London) which contrary to popular belief is not officially classed as a city as it has no city charter. It is a conurbation which includes two cities, the City of London and the City of Westminster, and a large number of towns. However the overwhelming majority of people in the UK and internationally consider London a city.

Note that the City of London is not the same as London or Greater London. The City of London also known as The City or the Square Mile spans an area of just over one square mile (just under 3 square kilometers) and forms the financial centre of Greater London. Its resident population is just 8000 but due to the high density of offices, its daily working population is around 300,000 makes a significant contribution to UK GDP.

There are many examples of large towns within the United Kingdom which are large enough to be considered 'cities', if 'cities' are defined as large and densely populated urban areas. To name but a few: Milton Keynes (approx. population of 210,000), Northampton (approx. population of 190,000), Luton (approx. population of 190,000).

Official Definition or Common Usage?

Because of the inconsistency between the common usage or meaning of the word 'city' and the very different definition of 'city' as an official status granted by the British Monarch, many people refute the official definition on the grounds that it has nothing in common with the meaning conveyed in common usage. Many people also dispute that it is the Crown's place to define the word. They argue that the official meaning of the word 'city' has little significance and ought to be officially superceded by meaning in common usage.

There are three categories of city in the heart of the debate:

• i. cities whose city status was granted since time immemorial

  There is no record of how, why or when these places were granted city status. Had they not been granted city status in the distant past, it is very unlikely that they would receive city status today especially in view of their very small size. Many people therefore consider their status unjustified by standards in today's common usage.





• ii. cities whose status was granted in the past due to having a diocesan cathedral

  Although cathedrals may have been considered of prime importance at the time of their construction and are still important to their local clergy and members, cathedrals do not play an important role in the lives of the majority of society.

  In the past the Church was at the very centre of each community and assumed a local governmental and administrative role. However today local councils, departments and endless layers of government administration have acquired this power. Today therefore in the interests of aspiring to democracatic values, cathedrals cannot be considered sufficient or appropriate grounds for granting city status.

  On purely religious grounds, the existence of a Christian cathedral to determine city status is prejudice to the significant number of inhabitants of other faiths who live in modern society in the UK.

  Furthermore most people would not consider religious grounds an appropriate measure to determine city status. Level of economic activity, population size or other socio-economic indicators are far more approporiate.





• iii. cities as designated by the British Monarch

  It is at best archaic and at worst totally ridiculous to some people that city status is decided by one person who was not democratically elected, rather than decided by democratic means such as voting or decided automatically on the basis of the size of the population, local economy or other such criteria.

  For many people it is 'Alice in Wonderland' that a city is only a city if one person says it is. The official definition of the word city is based on one person's opinion. This is in total contrast to the rest of our language which consists of definitions of words which are derived from the characteristics of the entities to which the words refer.

  For example, if someone suddenly decided that they wanted Birmingham to be demoted to a town and urged everyone to refer to it as a town, the population would no doubt dismiss it as an absurd idea. However if the queen removed its city status the government and local councils would be forced to enforce the decision although at the risk of attracting overwhelming criticism and possibly even bringing to the forefront of public consciousness the very question of what place an extravagant monarchy has in a society evolving towards democracy.

  Nevertheless this very scenario did recently happen to Rochester, which until recently had been a city since 1211 but is now pleading the queen to restore its former city status.