Blackpool, Inverness-Highland, Ipswich, Middlesbrough and Milton Keynes are among the places in the running for the title of the UK's City of Culture 2029. The nine-strong longlist, released on Wednesday by the government's Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), also includes Portsmouth, Sheffield, Swindon and Wrexham. Each city will now receive a £60,000 funding boost - up from £40,000 during the last city of culture competition - to develop a full bid. The winning city, which will succeed Bradford, will be announced later this year; and receive £10 million to deliver a year's worth of cultural activities drawing on its "local strengths and stories". The three next most impressive bids will receive £125,000 each to continue with some of their planned projects. Announcing the shortlist, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said she would "look forward to seeing what the nine longlisted places have in store".…