Mayor Boris Johnson declared he would lobby for Croydon to be named London’s third city if the Tories came to power.

At the opening of Croydon’s first council houses built for 20 years, Mr Johnson announced he would pursue the coveted title of London’s third city if the Conservatives take power from the Labour party during the next general election.

Mr Johnson said: “When the Tories take power from Labour at the next general election I will certainly lobby for Croydon to be named London’s third city.”

According to the rules a town can only bid for city status once it has been invited to by the Queen, and it must coincide with “important royal anniversaries which are national in nature”.

A council spokeswoman said: “Local authorities are invited to apply for city status, usually to coincide with royal occasions.

“It is a rare honour granted by the Queen on the advice of the Lord Chancellor.

“The council is not aware of any such impending occasion but would give serious consideration to a future invitation.”

A Ministry of Justice spokesman said city status is a rare mark of distinction, granted by personal command of the Queen. It is purely honourific and grants no additional powers.

He said: “City status is not, and never has been, a right which can be claimed by a town fulfiling certain conditions.

"All applications are considered on their individual merits.

“Competitions for city status are usually held to mark important royal anniversaries which are national in nature.

“The Ministry of Justice understands the Queen has not expressed any immediate wish to make grants of city status.”

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