One of Liverpool’s smallest political groups wants to give voters an alternative to the city’s “big two” parties at next month’s election.
With nine days to go until one of the most significant ballots in the city’s modern history, political parties have been setting out their stalls to win your vote. With their pitch, Liverpool’s Liberal Party group said “people across our city are sick and tired” of Labour and Liberal Democrat administrations and want to end “politics as usual.”
Both parties have led the city council for the last 25 years, with Labour controlling Liverpool since 2010. The Liberal Party group, led by Steve Radford, has said it wants to lead the charge to create what it describes as a “new, community-based politics” through a “constructive coalition that puts people first.”
READ MORE: Hooters could be forced to make major change after planning appeal dismissed
Talks between parties have taken place regarding formal coalitions as 85 councillors will be elected across 64 newly drawn ward boundaries. In their manifesto, the Liberal Party - which is fielding candidates in just nine wards - said this represented an opportunity for the city.
It said: “At last we have a real chance to give Liverpool the leadership it deserves. We can now build a constructive coalition that puts people first.
“We can work together to put people before property developers. Instead of derelict flats and empty sites there would be a co-ordinated plan to build new homes, especially for the young and for older people who might want to downsize.
“We need action to reduce the number of vacant properties and to target rogue landlords.” The Liberal Party is hoping to retain its five seats in the Town Hall, continuing its grip on Tuebrook and Stoneycroft, while holding onto seats in Croxteth and Childwall - the latter following the defection of Alan Tormey from the Liberal Democrats last year.
In the manifesto document, the group said Liverpool needs “councillors who’ll put their community first, not their party” and wanted to bridge the city’s north-south divide, health inequalities as well as bringing in “well-paid jobs and top-notch training opportunities for everyone who needs them.” The manifesto said: “First we need to clean up politics in Liverpool.
“Corruption probes and dodgy have dragged our city down. Too often in Liverpool people who should know better looked the other way as things went badly wrong.
“The toxic Town Hall culture of secrecy, patronage and bullying has cost us tens of millions of pounds and trashed Liverpool’s reputation. It’s why the city is currently being run by outsiders, commissioners sent in by the Government and costing you thousands of pounds a day.
“We shouldn’t have to put up with this.” The two-page outline said while Liverpool faces big challenges, it has great assets.
It said: “Its greatest asset is its people and genuine people power” can give Liverpool the fresh start it badly needs. On May 4th, let’s put an end to politics as usual by voting for community-based candidates in your local ward who offer a genuine alternative.”
Get all the latest Eurovision 2023 news straight to your inbox
READ NEXT
Moment gang's 'mistake' linked them to £500,000 cash machine raids
New Emergency Alert test to sound today but not all will get it
Calls for cameras in jail cells so cowardly killers like Thomas Cashman can't hide
Hooters could be forced to make major change after planning appeal dismissed
