Swansea MPs slam Tory rival after he appeared to label the city 'an absolute dump'
SWANSEA'S MPs have rounded on Tory rival David Amess after he suggested the city was an "absolute dump".
The MP, who is backing Southend-on-Sea's bid to be UK City of Culture 2017, suggested rival areas — including Swansea Bay — were unworthy of the accolade.
Amess claimed many of Southend's rivals "wouldn't know culture if it was put in front of them".
He added: "I have looked at some of the competition and frankly they are absolute dumps some of them."
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Swansea East MP Sian James said Swansea Bay had a "rich and diverse heritage of contemporary culture".
She added: "Dylan Thomas' 'Ugly lovely town' could yet surprise the likes of David Amess.
"Having said that, one of Harry Secombe's raspberries is probably more fitting on this occasion."
Swansea West MP Geraint Davies also highlighted next year's Dylan Thomas centenary to answer Mr Amess's criticism.
He said: "We anticipate a massive increase in tourism as a result of the many events going on throughout Swansea. Swansea is now a global brand thanks to the Premier League success of our football team — I have not heard of any reason Southend should be a contender."
Neath MP Peter Hain accused Mr Amess of "pig-headed ignorance" and said he clearly did not have "a clue about Swansea's vibrancy as a city, its strong arts and culture nor its beauty".
Llanelli MP Nia Griffith said the remarks were "frankly disgraceful". She added: "It's ridiculous for him [Mr Amess] to try and trample down other places to boost his own area."
And Carmarthen East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Edwards said Mr Amess's comments went "a long way to explaining why there hasn't been a Conservative MP in the Swansea area for generations".
The areas competing for City of Culture status are Aberdeen, Chester, Dundee, East Kent, Hastings and Bexhill-on-Sea, Hull, Leicester, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Southampton, Southend-on- Sea and Swansea Bay.
A winner will be announced in November.
Last night Mr Amess told the Post: "It's such a wonderful opportunity to become City of Culture I wanted to stir things up a bit, to generate a national debate.
"Parliamentarians are naturally going to sing the praises of their areas."
13 Comments
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by bennyhill4
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 5:32PM
“wet to watch swans v gillingham a few years ago and we stayed for the weekend in southend. What a dump,”
by pyreneo04
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 1:17PM
“Well that's the point of this new UK city of culture idea. It's to give smaller, more run-down places like Southend and Swansea, and the previous winner Londonderry, a chance to invest in some regeneration in an attempt to win the award.
You can up your home town and talk down your rivals as much as you like, but just take a look at the list of contenders, there are no major UK cities, with actual culture, on the list - just smaller, neglected areas. Otherwise, they'd be competing on a European level like Liverpool, Cardiff and Newcastle.”
by kasparov44
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 12:25PM
“A journalist manufacturing a story to get comment for an alleged slur? Whatever next?
Expect more of this kind of drivel with the new proprietor talking online about "monetising" the newspapers and others in the group.”
by RobatSwansea
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:35AM
“Manipulated news article again! He never said directly Swansea was a dump, he said some of the competition was a dump. I don't agree with his statement, because I think Swansea has a lot going for it, it has one of the most independent shopping areas which is fantastic. It has plenty of history and is beginning to address some of the short falls in culture (what makes culture is rather contested however). But one thing I am tired of is the constant referring to Dylan Thomas! Yes his work is good, but he was not a nice man! There is so much more, what about the fantastic Glenn Vivian gallery and the legacy he left? Please let's move onward too and create something to look forward to instead of constantly looking back into the past; nostalgia is not an attractive trait!”
by weslangdon
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:31AM
“Not a standard issue Toff, no, more of a spiv, still a dullard though!”
by Philosoraptor
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:26AM
“I wouldn't agree that much of the city is a dump, there are far worse places to live. We live in a world of relativity and until you actually go to some places beyond Swansea you will not realise just how this city is actually not too bad.
For instance, the vast majority of Greater London is what can be called a dump. It too has some spectacular area's far from poverty, but the other 90% is pretty bad. Who here would swap where they live to go and put your feet up in the area around Wembley Stadium? The are thousands of square miles in similar state, and thousands is not an exaggeration... Greater London is an enormous place.
Besides, for culture we blow Southend-On-Sea completely out of the water. We have a very rich heritage in sciences, entertainment, literature, sport and environment.
Swansea Bay is the front runner in this, and our culture is not based in the past. It is living, breathing to this day... some of you will remember the comments I made about how our culture here in Swansea plays its part we play in science and technology? Well, not only did Swansea have a large role in finally detecting the "God Particle" in 2012 and now in 2013 we announce that we are one step away from having the worlds first Tidal Lagoon energy system. A rare Green Energy solution that pretty all people agree with including Friends of the Earth, that is science, technology and environmental culture of Swansea rolled into one.
Remember, achievement contributes to culture and culture feeds off achievement. We excel in this. We are at the forefront of culture here for science, technology, literature, environment, sport and entertainment.”
by SAswan
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:20AM
“appeared to ? so in other words he actually didn't say it so journalists making stories up as usual and the evening post about five days behind other newspapers”
by williamwaun
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:15AM
“Parts of Swansea is thou, look at high street and other parts of Swansea looks like a total dump compared to Cardiff.”
by westcoastswan
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 11:12AM
“people ****ging off other places to make a name for themselves is getting pretty boring.
and southend on sea is venice ?”
by Vange
Tuesday, March 12 2013, 10:52AM
“What A Mess! No seriously though, I don't agree that Mr Amess is 'standard issue Tory dullard'. He went to a comprehensive school, & obtained his degree from a polytechnic.
Regarding Swansea, it is a lovely friendly city, with a great deal of maritime and cultural history. It is a pity that it suffered the same fate that Carmarthen has suffered more recently - having its heart destroyed to make way for a Debenhams store & surrounding shopping centre.”