The failure of Reading to achieve city status this year has provoked a large reaction from people on social media.

People are beginning to ponder whether Reading will ever achieve city status, despite its rich history, huge festival and estimated population of over 230,000.

Stephen Bush, the associate editor of the Financial Times, reacted to the news on Twitter, predicting that Reading will remain a town for decades to come.

Mr Bush wrote: “The year is 2100. The UK’s three remaining small villages are given “city status”. The UK’s only remaining town is still, inexplicably, Reading.”

READ MORE: Reading MPs react to town's failed city status bid

Olly Mawson tweeted: “Maybe it is reverse psychology. Maybe Reading needs to apply to downgrade to ‘hamlet’ or ‘village’ status – then they might consider it as a city.”

Heather Wallace added: “Reading has been rejected so many times we’re at the ‘we wouldn’t be a city if you paid us’.”

Reading has failed in its four attempts to become a city, in the special contest to mark the Millennium in 2000, the 2022 Gold Jubilee, the 2012 Diamond Jubilee and the Platinum Jubilee this year.

READ MORE: Reading councillors react to failed city status bid

One thing that may have hampered Reading’s bid is the town’s proximity to London, with cross rail solidifying its position as a commuter town rather than a city in its own right.

Josh Harris said: “Reading is on its way to becoming outer London now with cross rail, a good thing in my opinion.”

Mr Bush replied: “Agree on all points. In many ways this was Reading’s last chance for city status for precisely that reason in my view.”

Reading was beaten in the city status contest by Colchester, Doncaster, Milton Keynes and Wrexham in Wales.

Annabel Mullin expressed little surprise that Reading was snubbed,to which Mr Bush replied: “It’s as got as good a claim as Milton Keynes and a better one than Colchester or Wrexham!”

From last year: What do Reading's neighbours think of its city status bid?

Other Twitter users took Mr Bush’s point further by bringing up Slough.

Mark Keast said: “Just making Slough a city would be enough to confirm this conspiracy.”

Shayan Sardarizadeh added: “Pretty sure someone from Slough is in some board that makes these decisions.”

You can view the Tweet thread here:

It is unclear when the next ‘city making competition’ will be.

The new cities were made this year as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee festivities, celebrating her 70 years on the throne.

Jubilees are held to mark milestones in the reigns of a British monarch, starting with a silver jubilee to celebrate a 25 year reign, and ending with a Platinum Jubilee.

See the full list of new cities made this year below:

Colchester

Doncaster

Milton Keynes

Wrexham, Wales

Dunfermline, Scotland

Bangor, Northern Ireland

Douglas, Isle of Man

Stanley, Falkland Islands