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| Liverpool mayor should be global ambassador for city, says Labour hopeful | Liverpool mayor should be global ambassador for city, says Labour hopeful |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The mayor of the Liverpool city region should emulate the mayors of Paris and Los Angeles and work as a global ambassador for the area, shadow minister for mental health Luciana Berger has said, launching her campaign to be Labour’s candidate for the role. | The mayor of the Liverpool city region should emulate the mayors of Paris and Los Angeles and work as a global ambassador for the area, shadow minister for mental health Luciana Berger has said, launching her campaign to be Labour’s candidate for the role. |
| The Liverpool Wavertree MP described the mayoral role as “a massive opportunity to unite the city region and launch it on to an international stage” and said she would bring energy and fresh ideas to the job. | The Liverpool Wavertree MP described the mayoral role as “a massive opportunity to unite the city region and launch it on to an international stage” and said she would bring energy and fresh ideas to the job. |
| She said: “I’m not just thinking about [Liverpool city region] in a regional or national context. It’s about thinking about how it can have a global role. We are already a region with a very proud global reach and global reputation. | She said: “I’m not just thinking about [Liverpool city region] in a regional or national context. It’s about thinking about how it can have a global role. We are already a region with a very proud global reach and global reputation. |
| “We’re a region that has given birth to some pioneering social reformers … We’ve produced some cutting-edge technology and world-changing culture. We need to ensure that we take this region forward and are not relegated to the second tier of UK city regions, behind places like Manchester and Leeds.” | “We’re a region that has given birth to some pioneering social reformers … We’ve produced some cutting-edge technology and world-changing culture. We need to ensure that we take this region forward and are not relegated to the second tier of UK city regions, behind places like Manchester and Leeds.” |
| Berger’s announcement makes her the second Labour frontbencher this month to launch a bid for a northern English mayoralty. The shadow home secretary, Andy Burnham, launched his campaign to be Labour’s candidate for mayor of Greater Manchester on 18 May, warning that the party risked being eclipsed in the north of England if it failed to take devolution seriously. | Berger’s announcement makes her the second Labour frontbencher this month to launch a bid for a northern English mayoralty. The shadow home secretary, Andy Burnham, launched his campaign to be Labour’s candidate for mayor of Greater Manchester on 18 May, warning that the party risked being eclipsed in the north of England if it failed to take devolution seriously. |
| Like Burnham, Berger denies that her decision to run is because she is unconvinced by her party’s ability to win back power in 2020. “I think Labour can win in 2020 and I’ve been working for a number of months on formulating our viable alternative to the Tory government in the work that I’ve been doing in mental health,” she said. | Like Burnham, Berger denies that her decision to run is because she is unconvinced by her party’s ability to win back power in 2020. “I think Labour can win in 2020 and I’ve been working for a number of months on formulating our viable alternative to the Tory government in the work that I’ve been doing in mental health,” she said. |
| Berger faces a battle with Joe Anderson, who has been the city’s mayor since 2012, and Steve Rotheram, the MP for Liverpool Walton, to secure the Labour nomination. Labour’s dominance of the city means that whoever wins the party’s nomination is likely to win the overall competition. | |
| Labour’s 10,000 members across Merseyside and Halton will vote for their preferred candidate later this year before mayoral elections in May 2017. | Labour’s 10,000 members across Merseyside and Halton will vote for their preferred candidate later this year before mayoral elections in May 2017. |
| London-born Berger was selected as Labour’s candidate for the Liverpool Wavertree seat from an all-female shortlist before the 2010 general election. Members voted for her by a ratio of about two to one, but her selection prompted criticism that she had been parachuted in by the Labour leadership. | London-born Berger was selected as Labour’s candidate for the Liverpool Wavertree seat from an all-female shortlist before the 2010 general election. Members voted for her by a ratio of about two to one, but her selection prompted criticism that she had been parachuted in by the Labour leadership. |
| In the run-up to the 2010 general election, Berger scored two out of four when the Liverpool Echo quizzed her about the city, failing to name the band who performed Ferry Cross the Mersey. Both Anderson and Rotheram were born in Liverpool, and Berger’s opponents are likely to use her status as a relative newcomer to the city against her. | In the run-up to the 2010 general election, Berger scored two out of four when the Liverpool Echo quizzed her about the city, failing to name the band who performed Ferry Cross the Mersey. Both Anderson and Rotheram were born in Liverpool, and Berger’s opponents are likely to use her status as a relative newcomer to the city against her. |
| “Some people want to make this about where candidates are from,” said Berger. “Ultimately it’s what the candidates are going to do that will make the difference.” | “Some people want to make this about where candidates are from,” said Berger. “Ultimately it’s what the candidates are going to do that will make the difference.” |
| Asked how she was different from the other candidates, she said: “I believe that we need an energetic, campaigning metro mayor and a new approach. I think I’d bring those fresh ideas and new approach. | Asked how she was different from the other candidates, she said: “I believe that we need an energetic, campaigning metro mayor and a new approach. I think I’d bring those fresh ideas and new approach. |
| “This is my home,” she continued. “It’s where I’m rooted in the community. I’ve lived here for the last six years. I believe in this area and I’m absolutely committed to the region.” | “This is my home,” she continued. “It’s where I’m rooted in the community. I’ve lived here for the last six years. I believe in this area and I’m absolutely committed to the region.” |
| Berger said her husband, a Liverpool-based music manager, would be especially pleased to see her able to spend her whole week at home instead of having to travel down to Westminster. | Berger said her husband, a Liverpool-based music manager, would be especially pleased to see her able to spend her whole week at home instead of having to travel down to Westminster. |
| Addressing an audience at her campaign launch event in her constituency, Berger said: “When I was first elected as a young female MP, I had to work extra hard to win the respect of my colleagues in Westminster. | Addressing an audience at her campaign launch event in her constituency, Berger said: “When I was first elected as a young female MP, I had to work extra hard to win the respect of my colleagues in Westminster. |
| “Five years later and my constituency re-elected me with a trebled majority and the highest swing to Labour outside of London. And last year I was very proud to be appointed by Jeremy Corbyn as the youngest member of his shadow cabinet and the first ever shadow cabinet minister for mental health.” | “Five years later and my constituency re-elected me with a trebled majority and the highest swing to Labour outside of London. And last year I was very proud to be appointed by Jeremy Corbyn as the youngest member of his shadow cabinet and the first ever shadow cabinet minister for mental health.” |
| The Liverpool city region covers five Merseyside councils (Liverpool, St Helens, Knowsley, Sefton and Wirral) and Halton in Cheshire. The area’s new mayor – the most controversial condition of devolution agreements by George Osborne and a series of “metro” regions – will oversee £900m of public services. | The Liverpool city region covers five Merseyside councils (Liverpool, St Helens, Knowsley, Sefton and Wirral) and Halton in Cheshire. The area’s new mayor – the most controversial condition of devolution agreements by George Osborne and a series of “metro” regions – will oversee £900m of public services. |
| “The city region deal was agreed by a few people in a room and the overwhelming majority of the people who live across the city region didn’t have a say or a contribution to what might be in it, myself included,” said Berger. “As a member of parliament, nobody asked me what my constituents might think or what I might think.” | “The city region deal was agreed by a few people in a room and the overwhelming majority of the people who live across the city region didn’t have a say or a contribution to what might be in it, myself included,” said Berger. “As a member of parliament, nobody asked me what my constituents might think or what I might think.” |
| She said she would use the mayoralty to consult people about what other powers the area should get. “I’m clear that this devolution deal is a starting point, it’s not an end.” | She said she would use the mayoralty to consult people about what other powers the area should get. “I’m clear that this devolution deal is a starting point, it’s not an end.” |