The man spearheading Dundee’s bid to become UK City of Culture in 2017 has “absolutely refused” to be drawn into a war of words after an English MP claimed some of the contenders for the title were “absolute dumps”.
Stewart Murdoch said he would not engage in any negative campaigning against the other 10 contenders after Tory MP David Amess rubbished the competing cities while backing his home town of Southend-on-Sea.
The Essex politician said some of the cities “wouldn’t know culture if it was put in front of them”.
Mr Amess (60), who represents Southend West, reportedly said: “I have looked at some of the competition and frankly they are absolute dumps some of them.
“I better not say more because I’ll get into trouble, but I really think it is Southend which jumps out.”
Mr Amess could not be reached for comment when contacted by The Courier. However, it is understood he is insisting the remarks were “tongue-in-cheek”.
Leisure and Culture Dundee managing director Mr Murdoch said: “We have absolutely nothing to fear from that kind of comment, because we are not going to engage at all in negative campaigning.
“Southend-on-Sea is a lovely place and I won’t hear a bad word said against it.”
“I think that the cities that are bidding have real cultural aspirations and it is great that they are putting themselves forward,” Mr Murdoch said.
“We are simply putting our case forward, which will be the strongest case we can for this highly-cultured city.”
Mr Amess’s comments were met with derision on social networking sites, with one commentator speculating that the MP had committed “political suicide” with his remarks.
One Twitter user posted: “The rude comments of David Amess have probably lost Southend any chance of being City of Culture.
Another said: “Well done David Amess for scoring another own goal for Southend somebody please gag him.”
The eleven final bids must be submitted by the end of April with a shortlist announced in June.