Liverpool is once again set to host the Prime Minister, Cabinet Members and parliamentarians as the Labour Party conference takes place in the city. Council Leader, Cllr Liam Robinson, explains how Liverpool will be taking full advantage of the opportunity it presents…
Aside from the benefits to the visitor economy of 20,000 delegates filling our hotels, restaurants and other hospitality businesses, the conference provides us with a fantastic opportunity for us to tell Liverpool’s story, showcase the work we are doing to improve the city and discuss how to tackle challenges such as housing, social care and education.
Andy Burnham already knows our city well having been born in Aintree and, as a lifelong Blue, is a regular at the Hill Dickinson stadium. He has been a staunch supporter of Hillsborough families fight for justice and played a pivotal role in supporting the introduction of the new Hillsborough Law.
We know that the Prime Minister is a big advocate of devolution and moving powers away from Westminster. A good example is the re-regulation of bus services, which is enabling Mayor Steve Rotheram to build a network that prioritises passengers over profits, reinvesting revenue to deliver new and better connections as well as more evening and weekend services, running buses where they are most needed – not just where they make a profit. The proposed Overnight Visitor Levy is another example of a legislative lever which will enable us to reinvest a modest charge for people who come from all over the world to stay in our city to deliver improvements that benefit local residents. And we are also creating a Mayoral Development Corporation to drive forward our ambitious vision for the regeneration of north Liverpool.
We will be making the case to give us more control over our destiny. Why should we not have powers to create distinct policies that tackle issues in public health, as Scotland has done around alcohol and integrating health and social care? Imagine the difference we could make locally if Air Passenger Duty (APD) was devolved locally to support improvements at Liverpool John Lennon Airport? Or if regional directors of education – responsible for improving school standards – were accountable to locally-based Combined Authorities rather than the Department for Education (DfE).
We are proof that a large city can work with partners, within a City Region, to deliver for all of our communities. When we get the powers, the resources, and – most importantly – the trust, we can transform lives and places. With a Prime Minister committed to devolution, there has never been a better time for us to press our case.
