Liverpool’s “spectacular” hosting of the Eurovision Song Contest has been lavished with praise by the leader of the Labour Party.
Around half a million people descended on the city during the two weeks of music and events coinciding with the hosting of the continental music show. Liverpool Council said it had surpassed its initial targets of 100,000 visitors and now is turning its focus on how it can maximise the legacy of having the eyes of the world on the city.
Such was the success of the city stepping in to hold the international song contest on behalf of Ukraine, this year’s edition has been dubbed by some as the best Eurovision ever. Former Mayor Joanne Anderson described Eurovision as one of the “city’s greatest triumphs.”
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It has also won praise from Westminster, with Sir Keir Starmer writing to offer his congratulations. Posting on Twitter, Cllr Harry Doyle, cabinet member for health, wellbeing and culture, shared a letter he had received from the Labour leader.
In it, Sir Keir said: “I just wanted to drop you a line to congratulate you and everyone at Liverpool Council for hosting such an amazing week of Eurovision events that did the city and country proud.
“We would all have preferred the competition to be able to be held in Ukraine but you should be really proud of the way in which Liverpool successfully campaigned to host the event and then delivered such a spectacular festival of music and solidarity that was a joy for all who attended but also an event that never forgot the context in which it was happening.
“There is no doubt that it is a week that will live long in the memory and joins a prestigious list of events the city has hosted. Please do pass on my sincere thanks to all the council staff and volunteers who made sure it was such a triumph for Liverpool, the United Kingdom and Ukraine.”
In his tweet, Cllr Doyle said: “Eurovision was a huge triumph for our city and there are so many people that played their part in making it special, including our volunteers. Thank you for your kind words, Keir.”
During a meeting of the first new city council cabinet on Tuesday, Cllr Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool Council, said the authority should be “proud but not satisfied” and wanted to ensure Liverpool delivered on the legacy of the song contest. He added how it had been “brilliant and exceptional” and said the whole city had pulled together to put on the event in the competition’s history.
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