Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Mr Trout is from Liverpool and there?s a story, very possibly an apocryphal one, which has been doing the rounds for the past couple of years. It goes something like this. A major national study of social attitudes contained the following question: ?Name Britain?s Second City? This question was put to a cross-section of the residents of each of Britain?s largest cities. In Glasgow the majority answer, unsurprisingly, was Glasgow. Its Scottish neighbour Edinburgh believed it to be Edinburgh. Our friends in Manchester likewise cited their own fair city. Birmingham, which in population terms at least is clearly Britain?s second city, echoed the response pattern elsewhere. However, when a cross-section of the residents of Liverpool was asked to name Britain?s Second City the majority answer was??? London.


This characteristically playful response at once highlights the extraordinary paradox of contemporary Liverpool. When I tell this story to people in Liverpool and from around the world it usually elicits one of three responses.


The first is that it?s a joke, a very good joke, and an especially agreeable one if you enjoy deflating the metropolitan pomp of our dear old capital. The second response is usually an admiration and appreciation for a people who have so much assurance, belief and pride in their own identity and value their hometown so much that even London ? arguably the creative and economic capital of western Europe ? sits in the shadow of Liverpool.


The second view is that this is a classic act of self-delusion. Liverpool is no more the premier city of Britain than Captain Bird?s Eye is a senior official in the Royal Navy.


So, people of ED, where do you consider to be Britain's 'second' city?

Link to comment
https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/2048-britains-second-city/
Share on other sites

I was talking 18th century


See the soley fact-filled wikipedia...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_city_of_the_United_Kingdom


"Other cities, including some in Scotland and Ireland, such as Glasgow and Dublin, and others in England, have also at times been considered to be the second city, either historically or due to their economic importance."


"The title Second city of Empire or Second city of the British Empire has been claimed by a number of cities with respect to their status in the British Empire in the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries. These include Dublin, Glasgow (which continues to use the title as a marketing slogan) Liverpool, and (outside the UK) Calcutta and Philadelphia."


Ha ha, tell that last one to an american. Is that you volunteering Maurice? Nice :)

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Latest Discussions

    • Per Cllr McAsh, as quoted above: “We are currently updating our Enforcement Policy and changes will allow for the issuing of civil penalties ranging from £175 to £300 for visible smoke emissions, replacing the previous reliance on criminal prosecution. " Is anyone au fait with the Clean Air Act 1993, and  particularly with the state of 'Smoke Control' law and practice generally?  I've just been looking  through some of it for the first time and, afaics, the civil penalties mentioned  were introduced into the Clean Air Act, at Schedule 1A, in May 2022.  So it seems that, in this particular,  it's a matter of the enforcement policy trailing well behind the legislation.  I'm not criticising that at all, but am curious.  
    • Here's the part of march46's linked-to Southwark News article pertaining to Southwark Council. "Southwark Council were also contacted for a response. "Councillor James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Clean Air, Streets & Waste said: “One of Southwark’s key priorities is to create a healthy environment for our residents. “To achieve this we closely monitor legislation and measures that influence air pollution – our entire borough apart from inland waterways is designated as a Smoke Control Area, and we also offer substantial provision for electric vehicles to promote alternative fuel travel options and our Streets for People strategy. “We as a council support the work of Mums for Lungs and recognise the health and environmental impacts of domestic solid fuel burning, particularly from wood-burning appliances. “We are currently updating our Enforcement Policy and changes will allow for the issuing of civil penalties ranging from £175 to £300 for visible smoke emissions, replacing the previous reliance on criminal prosecution.  “This work is being undertaken in collaboration with other London boroughs as part of the pan-London Wood Burning Project, which aims to harmonise enforcement approaches and share best practice across the capital.” ETA: And here's a post I made a few years ago, with tangential relevance.  https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/278140-early-morning-drone-flying/?do=findComment&comment=1493274  
    • The solicitor is also the Executor. Big mistake, but my Aunt was very old, and this was the Covid years and shortly after so impossible to intervene and get a couple of close relatives to do this.  She had no children so this is the nephews and nieces. He is a single practitioner, and most at his age would have long since retired - there is a question over his competence Two letters have already gone essentially complaining - batted off and 'amusingly' one put the blame on us. There are five on our side, all speaking to each other, and ideally would work as a single point of contact.  But he has said that this is not allowed - we've all given approval to act on each others behalf. There are five on her late husband's side, who have not engaged with us despite the suggestion to work as a team, There is one other, who get's the lion's share, the typicical 'friend', but we are long since challenging the will. I would like to put another complaint together that he has not used modern collective communication (I expect that he is incapable) which had seriously delayed the execution of the will.   I know many in their 80s very adept with smart phones so that is not an ageist comment. The house has deteriorated very badly, with cold, damp and a serious leak.  PM me if you want to see the dreadful condition that it is now in. I would also question why if the five of us are happy to work together why all of us need to confirm in writing.             The house was lived in until Feb 23, and has been allowed to get like this.
    • Isn’t a five yearly electricity safety certificate one of the things the landlord must give for a legal tenancy?
Home
Events
Sign In

Sign In



Or sign in with one of these services

Search
×
    Search In
×
×
  • Create New...