Britain's Second City

[Kilgore Trout]

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?

[mockney piers]

I think traditionally it was Dublin wasn't it? Of course times have moved on a bit since then.

I've always considered it to be Birmingham myself.

[SeanMacGabhann]

It is Birmingham officially isn't it?

But Sheffield has become my second city

[ratty]

Portsmouth

[Nero]

It's difficult, really. I think it ought to be Manchester, but then again I think it should be Edinburgh if we really believe in the Union. Nero

[Jah Lush]

Officially it's Birmingham but quite frankly I don't give f**k.

[atila the gooner]

Oh dear, is Brum really our second city? Just as well Londons the first then eh!!!>:D< Like Jah said, I really couldn't care less.

[mockney piers]

A part of me wants it to be Norwich, I've no idea why.

[SeanMacGabhann]

"and on radio Norwich that was Japan, with Laahf eeen Talkyo"

[Ladygooner]

I would have thought Manchester?

[mockney piers]

City populations as per 2001 census

Urban areas as per National Statistics 2001

[Brendan]

South London

[david_carnell]

Leeds.

It has a Harvey Nichols you know (at least according to my uni prospectus, I was too poor to shop there).

Interestingly (or not) it is the biggest City to only have one football team.

[mockney piers]

If Croydon ever succeeds in its goal to be a city it'll make it in to the top 10 cities in the UK.

What a frightening thought!!!

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/census2001/pyramids/pages/00ah.asp

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Last time I looked MP, Dublin wasn't in Britain.

[mockney piers]

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 :)

[Keef]

Shame Birmingham is the official one. I guess Edinburgh is a good shout to keep our northern neighbours happy.

All that said, it has to be the pool!

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Actually Keef, on the premise that Taggart is better than Rebus, (and Rangers are better than Hibs) it would have to be Glasgow.

[downsouth]

Croydon.

[Asset]

I think if you take the factor of financial capital plus 'capital city', it has to be Edinburgh. Britain did still include Scotland last time I looked. Not sure for how much longer though.

[Domitianus]

It SHOULD be Bonnie Portmore.

[Melody Nelson]

i am afraid i'll have to agree with the good people of Liverpool.

et voila.