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Next week sees the start of the World Cup in Germany. The Cities of Leipzig, Munich, Hamburg and Frankfurt (home to some of Europe's most dynamic Mayors) all boast brand new Stadiums for the tournament.

Meanwhile here in Liverpool - over eight years since a new ground for Everton FC was first mooted - it seems that Liverpool City Council has yet to even identify a suitable location to house the Blues. According to today's Liverpool Echo:"Experts have been sent out by the Council to scour the city for potential sites for a new stadium, after it emerged Knowsley was offering the club three possible plots including land next to Kirkby sports centre in Valley Road."

Inevitably, Liverpool City Council leader Warren Bradley is 'vowing to fight tooth and nail' to keep the Blues in Liverpool.

" Given how long this sorry saga has dragged on, the sense of urgency that Cllr. Bradley is trying to convey is embarrassingly unconvincing. It seems that yet again while Mayors in other cities are delivering, Liverpool's leaders are still dithering."

Urgent action is needed to revive Liverpool’s local democracy after just 25% of eligible voters took part in the 2006 City Council elections. In Central Ward the turnout was a shocking 12%.

The number of people taking part in Liverpool elections has halved in the last 20 years.

“Anyone who cares about local democracy can only be appalled by these figures. This depressingly low turnout makes the case for changing the way Liverpool is run even more urgent." amayorforliverpool.org believes having a high-profile, full-time Elected Mayor would revive interest in local government and give people a reason to vote. “They’d be choosing between real candidates with real visions for Liverpool running for a real job, “ says Liam.

“The people have spoken, and what they’ve said is ‘We’re not interested in what’s on offer. “

" Last week Mayors were re-elected in four English authorities. The contests in Watford, Lewisham, Hackney and Newham all reported an increased voter turnout, bucking the national trend. Mayoral politics can reach parts of the electorate the present system doesn’t reach.

We should be creating a more accountable and engaging form of local politics -we should be electing a Mayor for Liverpool."

LIVERPOOL'S 'DEAL OR NO DEAL' ELECTION.

The choice facing voters in today's local elections is just like picking a mystery box on the ‘Deal or no Deal’ gameshow. Neither of the two main parties have sent out a local manifesto during this year’s campaign. Voters are expected to make a choice with almost no information and just hope for the best. Unfortunately, unlike ‘Deal or no Deal’ there is likely to be very little interest in the outcome and – with our current council system - there is no chance of Liverpool people hitting the jackpot.

It seems completely ridiculous that as we begin this crucial phase in our City’s history, local politicians are not offering any kind of blueprint for the future. It’s time we had some real leadership and Liverpool voters were given some real choices.

MAYOR CAN “DO THE BUSINESS” FOR LIVERPOOL

The economic case for an Elected Mayor for Liverpool has been powerfully made in a landmark report into the state of our towns and cities.

The State of English Cities says Liverpool and other English cities are lagging behind their counterparts in Europe and the US when it comes to regeneration and enterprise.

The 300-page report, compiled by Professor Michael Parkinson from Liverpool John Moores University, says “entrepreneurial, local leadership is crucial in helping find new economic futures for cities, their businesses and residents.”

The report outlines the benefits of stronger local political leadership under a directly-elected city Mayor:

“The direct election of Mayors in England could help realise the potential of cities and city-regions. Strong city leadership could help urban places adapt in the changing economy.”

The report’s authors also say elected Mayors could cut through the confusion of quangos and other agencies responsible for aspects of city regeneration:

“Accountable clear leaders … would be in a unique position to reach across programmes to achieve results, taking a wider view.”

The Chair of amayorforliverpool.org, Liam Fogarty, welcomed the findings of the State of English Cities report.

“Liverpool needs imaginative, accountable leadership with a real business focus if it’s not to fall further behind cities in the UK and Europe. And we should be inspired by examples of civic leadership from abroad.

“ An Elected Mayor could transform the tone and ambition of Liverpool politics. It’s time to raise our game as a city. And giving Liverpudlians a direct say in who should lead their city would be a start.”

" Liverpool's bad old days of political infighting seemed to be long gone when the city celebrated its Capital of Culture win - but the smiles of its leaders didn't last."

POLITICAL SYSTEM IN DIRE STRAITS, REPORT WARNS.

Britain's political system is in danger of "meltdown" if major changes are not made, an independent report says.

The Power Inquiry, chaired by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, says voters feel they have little influence over decisions affecting their lives. The report also calls for more powers to be shifted from Whitehall to local government.

The report – called Power to the People - drew on 1,500 public submissions as well as surveys and hearings held all over the UK. It says “plummeting turnout” at election time is proof that "the current way of doing politics is killing politics".

Lady Kennedy says: "Too often, citizens are being evicted from decision-making, rarely asked to get involved and rarely listened to."

She added: “The politicos have no idea of the alienation that’s out there. People…feel quietly angry or depressed. When it comes to politics they feel they are ‘eating stones.’ ”

The report says there is deep distrust of local government, “widely perceived as inefficient, wasteful and unresponsive to its citizens’ wishes.”

Among its recommendations, the report calls for the introduction of a fairer voting system, the setting up of local “Citizens’ Panels” to give people a greater say in local policy-making, and lowering the minimum voting age to 16.

amayorforliverpool.org believes that giving Liverpool people the right to choose a Leader or Mayor for their city will revive interest in local politics, and get citizens involved in the political process. At present fewer than one-in-four Liverpudlians vote at local elections. In some polling districts, an astonishing 90% of people on the voting register stay at home…

TOP THINK-TANK REVEALS DEPTH OF CITY CRISIS.
An influential think-tank says the "poor tone" of Liverpool politics means the city must stay in the "slow lane" while cities like Manchester get extra powers and money from Whitehall.

The Institute of Public Policy Research (IPPR) confirms the damage done by the row between ex-Council Leader Mike Storey and departing Chief Executive Sir David Henshaw. The IPPR recommends that Manchester and Birmingham should be at the heart of new "city-regions" led by Elected Mayors. They would be given £600m to spend on transport, skills and regeneration. But Liverpool would miss out.
The IPPR report, City Leadership, concludes: "There is political uncertainty within the city and the wider city-region….we do not believe the Liverpool city-region is currently ready for radical devolution." The report also highlights the lack of trust between the Liverpool City Council and local businesses in Liverpool.

"The IPPR report is a damning indictment of the state of local government in Liverpool. It proves exactly what we have been saying since we launched our campaign, that the people of Liverpool and our business community simply do not trust this City Council.

"Bombarding us with press releases and photo opportunities about pop concerts and swimming pools is no substitute for real delivery. In the real world people that matter are talking about the poor quality of our city leadership. And yet again Manchester is speeding ahead while we in Liverpool are faced with more years in the 'slow lane'."

The IPPR's findings are expected to influence a Government White Paper on the state of England's cities, to be published next month.

As part of our campaign to promote a directly-elected Mayor for Liverpool we will be spotlighting other towns and cities that have already made the change and now have a successful Mayor. This week Liam Fogarty travelled to Middlesbrough to talk to Mayor Ray Mallon, about his efforts to turn around the - formerly struggling - town.

This week has seen the news that Sir David Henshaw will be leaving his post as Liverpools most senior Council Officer by the end of the month. A statement issued to the press indicated that he is retiring in order to protect his pension arrangements.

“Sir David can point to a number of successful initiatives during his time at LCC and it is right that these are acknowledged. But his departure also reminds us that he was one of the key players in the most damaging episode in recent City history, namely his spectacular falling out with former Council Leader Mike Storey. Their continuing row has left our City in a leadership crisis.

David Henshaws decision to go does nothing to resolve the fundamental problem that is holding Liverpool back, that is the absence of clear, effective and accountable leadership. Liverpool can’t progress as long as unelected officers and part-time politicians engage in a permanent struggle for power. Only a directly elected City Mayor – answerable to all Liverpudlians at the ballot box – can deliver the leadership we need.”

Media entrepreneur and Brookside creator Phil Redmond has revealed that he’s convinced by the case for an elected Mayor for Liverpool.

In his latest column in the Liverpool Daily Post, Redmond says the public is "disenchanted with formal politics." He continues:

"Perhaps this is why elected mayors are back on the agenda. If I had any doubts before, the recent public spat among Liverpool's party politicians has convinced me there must be something to in it."

" To make real change, to make real progress, usually means upsetting people - usually the ones already in power. That is the nature of politics. Therefore an elected mayor must be a winner, judging by the amount of time and correspondence several local politicians have recently put in to denounce the whole idea."

Professor Redmond scoffed at some of the arguments put forward by opponents of an Elected Mayor.

"Their best arguments for it not happening? An elected mayor might not have political clout to attract centralised funding, and if we don't like who we've elected we'll be stuck with them for four years. I won't go near anything like the Fourth Grace, tower blocks or the trams.... but this was also from people who get elected for, er, what was it, now? Oh yes, four years."

Claiming that people were fed up with "party-led" politics, Phil hinted he'd support the idea of an independent Elected Mayor for Liverpool:

" Something independent of party whip, favour or funding; something that that keeps politicians tied to community reality, not agendas set at national conferences."

Former City Council leader Mike Storey’s surprise admission that Liverpool’s Capital of Culture year may be a flop highlights the urgent need for new city leadership.

Councillor Storey told the Daily Post he’s concerned that the organisation of 2008 has become remote from ordinary people. He fears Liverpool’s Culture year may leave no lasting legacy for the city.

Lord Mayor"Will stay," Says Campaign.
Campaigners for an Elected Mayor for Liverpool made it clear that the historic post of Lord Mayor of The City of Liverpool is not under threat.

Opponents of the plan to give Liverpool voters the chance to elect a city leader have claimed the job of Lord Mayor would disappear.

"The City would still need a Lord Mayor to preside over meetings of the Council, and to carry out ceremonial functions, " says chair of amayorforliverpool.org, Liam Fogarty.

"Other English authorities with Elected Mayors have retained their Lord Mayors. To suggest that Liverpool would automatically lose its Lord Mayor is pure nonsense calculated to divert attention from the real issue."

amayorforliverpool.org Chair Liam Fogarty outlines some of the key arguments in support of an elected Mayor .

15/12/05
amayorforliverpool.org is launched!
Over the coming weeks and months, we'll be expanding the site as supporters join the campaign to have a referendum on an Elected Mayor for Liverpool. We'll be incorporating features such as a bulletin board and discussion forum etc. so you can have your say.

15/12/05
Media responds to launch of campaign.
amayorforliverpool.org features extensively in today's Liverpool Daily Post and Liverpool Echo. Campaign Chair Liam Fogarty tells the Post and Echo of the urgent need to fill Liverpool's "leadership vacuum".

The launch of the campaign to have an Elected Mayor for Liverpool features on BBC Radio Merseyside.

GROUNDS FOR CONCERN

LIVERPOOL'S 'DEAL OR NO DEAL' ELECTION.

MAYOR CAN “DO THE BUSINESS” FOR LIVERPOOL

POLITICAL SYSTEM IN DIRE STRAITS, REPORT WARNS.