Latest news with #LiverpoolCityRegion
The Sun
27-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Liverpool parade crash latest: Jürgen Klopp breaks silence on horror which left 4 people ‘very, very ill
J Ü RGEN Klopp has broken his silence in a heartfelt post following the horror crash that has left four people 'very, very ill.' The former Liverpool manager took to Instagram to express his devastation over the horror crash that injured 47 people during Liverpool FC's victory parade. The post read: "My family and I are shocked and devastated. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are injured and affected. "You'll never walk alone." Steve Rotheram, Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor, revealed that four people in hospital are currently "very ill" following the horror crash. He told BBC Radio 5 Live: "We are hoping, of course, that they pull through." The mayor was then asked if the update indicated an increase in the number of people seriously injured. He replied: "No, not directly, but of course we're in liaison with the police and the ambulance services.'
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Councillor Marion Atkinson sees off leadership challenge in Sefton
Councillor sees off leadership challenge 9 minutes ago Share Save Claire Hamilton BBC Political Reporter, Merseyside Share Save Local Democracy Reporting Service Marion Atkinson saw off the leadership challenge just over a year after she was elected to the role A Merseyside councillor has seen off a leadership challenge just over a year after she was appointed to the role. Sefton Council leader Marion Atkinson was challenged by Sudell ward councillor James Hansen at a meeting on Tuesday night, with just five votes between the Labour politicians. Atkinson became Sefton's first female council leader when she was elected in January 2024, and has been the only female leader on Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Meanwhile, Labour's Paula Basnett was elected as new Labour leader of Wirral Council and is set to become council leader at a meeting later this month. As leader of Sefton Council's largest party, Marion Atkinson is set to continue to lead the authority. She has overseen investment in Bootle's Salt and Tar venue as leader, and she was relatively new in the role when she led the council's response to the Southport stabbing attack in July 2024. Basnett, who represents the Rock Ferry ward, is set to take over from previous Wirral Council leader Paul Stuart after he stood down, and she will become leader at a full council meeting on 21 May. As the authority has no overall control, any leader needs the support of at least 34 councillors from a minimum of two political parties. Basnett will therefore be seeking support from opposition parties in the council going forward. Her election follows weeks of speculation about an internal battle within Wirral Labour over the top job. Wirral Council Paula Basnett is set to become the new leader of Wirral Council Basnett, who was elected two years ago, said she would look to restore trust in the council's finances, speed up regeneration and housing projects, and focus on building cleaner, safer neighbourhoods. Before she entered politics, she worked as an investment manager at Wirral Council before taking over the Wirral Chamber of Commerce following a funding crisis in 2013. She remains the organisation's chair. The Chamber of Commerce has historically had a close relationship with Wirral Council, with the organisation receiving funding for a business support service contract as well as receiving £1.4m of Town Deal money to support the purchase and refurbishment of Egerton House in Birkenhead. The building was sold in 2024 to the Chamber of Commerce for £1.9m. However, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said the Chamber publicly criticised the council last year about a high turnover in the local authority's regeneration department and alleged lack of engagement with the business sector. Though Basnett was copied into an email at the time, a representative for the Chamber said she had remained independent over the matter. 'Future direction concerns' Commenting on the election, leader of Wirral's Conservatives Jeff Green said: "Wirral's Conservative councillors are not interested in the internal politics of the Labour Party but we are worried for the future direction of the council. He said that over the last two years they had "worked constructively with all the parties to 'right size' the council, while tackling the issues inherited from previous Labour administrations". Green said that while they waited to hear from the new leader of the Labour Group, "I can assure her, and the taxpayers of the borough, that our position has not changed". "If it's good for the residents of Wirral and improves the performance of the council, we'll support it," he added. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
05-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Cheshire and Warrington given green light for devolution
Plans for Cheshire and Warrington to get more powers from the government are moving forward, after the three councils were given the go-ahead to move forward with a devolution area has been included in the government's devolution priority programme (DPP), which local leaders previously said would bring "significant power and funding" to the area's three councils had asked the government for a devolution deal which would include electing its first mayor in May Prime Minister Angela Rayner said Cheshire and Warrington would be one of six areas joining the DPP. Council leaders previously said a devolution deal would benefit residents, communities and businesses in Cheshire and areas of the country have been given permission to postpone elections while devolution talks take place, but there are no elections taking place in Cheshire this year. Devolution has been discussed for the county for several 2015, the three councils drew up a bid but it was rejected a year later by councillors in Warrington - as there had been a split over whether to join the Liverpool City Region or work with Cheshire East and Cheshire West and Chester agreed to join a deal in 2017, but although discussions with the government took place, no agreement was the general election last year, the councils began talks with the government about devolution and last month, the three authorities formally submitted a request to be considered for the devolution priority week, leaders said any combined authority would be called Cheshire and Warrington, after some calls for it to just feature the county councils will now work with the government to confirm their deal and what powers they will take on, ahead of the first mayoral elections which are expected to take place on 7 May 2026. Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
