Dundee’s bid to be crowned European Capital of Culture 2023 is in tatters because UK cities are not eligible for the title – due to Brexit.

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The city sent off its bid to be named the capital of culture on October 26 with a grand ceremony outside the Caird Hall.

However, this appears to be all for nothing after a letter authored by Martine Reicherts, director-general in the Commission’s education and culture department, confirmed UK cities were not eligible because the country was leaving the EU.

And, in a statement provided to the Tele, the European Commission’s Scotland office, in Edinburgh, confirmed that this was the case.

A spokeswoman for the office said: “As one of the many concrete consequences of its decision to leave the European Union by 29 March 2019, the UK cannot host the European Capital of Culture in 2023.”

The UK was due to announce on Thursday next week which city it was to put forward for the accolade.

Dundee was competing against Nottingham, Leeds, Milton Keynes and Belfast/Derry.

More on this story in today’s Tele Late Extra.