Former French leader – and Capital of Culture bidder – visits the city

Apr 30 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

A FORMER French prime minister was in Liverpool yesterday for some Capital of Culture advice.

Alain Juppe is now the Mayor of Bordeaux, which is bidding for the title in 2013 when it will be awarded to a French city.

Liverpool’s Lord Mayor, Cllr Paul Clark, was able to offer his French counterpart some tips on securing the title and the benefits attached to it.

Representatives from Marseille, one of the other shortlisted cities, have also visited.

Cllr Clark said: “It’s fantastic that other cities are actively coming to Liverpool to see our achievements and the progress of our year in the global spotlight.”

Liverpool will be visited by other international delegations over the next week, with guests from the Ruhr – Germany’s Capital of Culture for 2010 – and Graz – the Austrian title-holder in 2003 – coming to see the regeneration of the city.