Mr Fraser also reassured Perth parliamentarian Roseanna Cunningham after she doubted the worth of city status.

“I have lodged this motion in order to galvanise support in the Scottish Parliament for Perth to be the front runner when the next opportunity develops for a city bid,” he said.

“It is important we gain support and start the ball rolling on making Perth the lead candidate. It took years of work and dedication from supporters of Inverness’ city bid for the bid to materialise,” Mr Fraser continued.

“I want to see local politicians, local businesses and local voluntary and community organisations all behind this bid.

“We must make a strong and united case for Perth to be awarded city status.”

Mr Fraser believes the benefits of city status would be numerous.

“Roseanna Cunningham has publicly stated that she would be against the bid if it were to be to the exclusion of the needs of the towns and villages that make up the rest of the council area,” the MSP stated.

“I can reassure Ms Cunningham that Perth being awarded city status will benefit the whole region. A successful bid will see improved infra-structure links and more investment into the region. Put simply, Perth gaining city status is positive for the whole area.”

The full text of Mr Fraser’s motion is as follows:

“That the Parliament notes that Perth, whilst an ecclesiastical city, does not have the legal status of city conferred on Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness and Stirling; recognises Perth’s historical and present day importance to Scotland and its contribution to Scotland economically, culturally and socially; believes that Perth has all the qualities that are taken into account when a place is being considered for city status, including notable features, regional significance, history, and a forward-looking attitude; is concerned that, without legal city status, Perth does not gain the benefits that the six legal cities in Scotland enjoy, for example in relation to Scottish Executive funding or as the centre of possible future city regions for planning purposes; believes, therefore that Perth deserves full legal recognition of city status, and considers that when the next opportunity arises for a Scottish bid for the creation of a new city the Scottish Executive should support a bid from Perth.”