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Hello,
Today’s edition takes a closer look at how bus strikes will impact the region as the metro mayor comes out in support. There’s a report on Liverpool’s mass testing programme and news that more outside scrutiny will be placed on the council. But first we’ll take a quick look at the big political news in Westminster.
Clinging on
Having battled through the early weeks of summer, surviving calls for resignations over partygate, a confidence vote and poor performances in crucial by elections, the summer recess of Parliament would have offered some respite for Boris Johnson. But the date of 21 July, when Parliament breaks for summer, now hangs over his premiership like a guillotine. What would have been a point of relief knowing he’d rode out successive scandals now appears like a mirage on the horizon, with the PM having to wearily trudge on for two more weeks - completely exposed from all sides. A change of rules within the backbench 1922 committee before 21 July could be what finishes him off, if another confidence vote can be arranged.
The resignations of Savid Javid, followed by Rishi Sunak, have come as the biggest blow for the ailing Prime Minister who is adamant he’ll fight on. But here on Merseyside, a chorus of voices are firmly suggesting this is the beginning of the end.
Such has been the level of scandal that has dogged the Government for the past nine months, you’d be forgiven for not knowing which one has led to this current point of crisis in Number 10. In many ways it's an amalgamation of standards, partygate and poor performances in elections, but the furore around the appointment of Chris Pincher, for which the PM apologised yesterday, seems to have been what’s set off the domino of resignations.
As the PM was making his apology, it emerged health secretary Sajid Javid had resigned his post. This was shortly followed by Chancellor Rishi Sunak. Mr Javid pointed to the PM’s leadership as the reason for his resignation. In his letter, Mr Sunak said: "The public rightly expect government to be conducted properly, competently and seriously", adding: "I believe these standards are worth fighting for and that is why I am resigning."
The resignations of two heavyweights in the cabinet, and two former key allies, will have rocked and already shaky Number 10. But one point of optimism for the PM is that more big names in the cabinet didn’t depart. Equally, he was able to fill the two vacant positions in time for the 10 o’clock news - a small point, but one that would give off the impression of what many see as sinking ship could be steadied, for now.
Boris Johnson has few supporters on Merseyside, with Southport MP Damien Moore arguably lukewarm towards his leader, judging by his statement leading up to the confidence vote last month. But a raft of Merseyside Labour politicians have called on the PM to throw in the towel. These include Riverside MP Kim Johnson, who wrote on Twitter, with rhetoric pointed towards Sunak and Javid: “This has to be time to go for Boris Johnson. But don't be fooled by those who have stood by him and defended him in allowing people to die unnecessarily of COVID, of joining in the cronyism and corruption and covering up his lies.”
This was seconded by Mayor Joanne Anderson, who said: “This must be the end for Johnson. Whilst the rest of the country is focusing on the Cost of Living, the Tories are dealing with sleaze.” The Liverpool Mayor added that a general election must now be put on the table to “get rid of this immoral government once and for all”. Labour leader Keir Starmer said he would welcome a snap general election.
Strikes on the buses
Disruption to bus services in the city region was already expected with a number of proposed routes potentially being axed by operators from September. But industrial action is also set to impact services.
Earlier this week strike action began on Stagecoach buses as employees walked out in a row over pay. Further walks outs are planned for Friday and a number of other days throughout July if the dispute continues. Stagecoach said they believe a 'reasonable offer' of a 10.3% increase was put forward last week, but union Unite said its members are angry over low pay which is 'deep seated.'
Stagecoach workers are now set to be joined by another of the region’s major operators, Arriva. As reported yesterday, Bus drivers from Arriva depots across Merseyside and the North West are set to walk out on strike later this month over what has been labelled a 'pitiful' pay offer. The action follows three days of strike action by members of the RMT at the tail end of last month.
Around 1,800 workers for the bus operator have returned a 96% yes vote in favour of strike action. The Unite union says that unless Arriva drastically improves its offer then the first region-wide strike will take place on Wednesday July 20. Stagecoach bus drivers in Liverpool are also planning another strike on the same day, meaning the city region could face severe disruption to its bus services on that day.
Unite says its members are striking over a pay offer from the German-owned transport giant of just 3% with no strings attached, or 6% which included reductions in sick pay and loss of Saturday enhanced pay. The union has pointed out that both the offers are far below the current real inflation rate (RPI) of 11.7% and so constitute a real terms pay cut.
In response, a spokesperson for Arriva said: "Further discussions with our trade union partners, Unite & GMB, are being held later this week. We remain focused on offering a fair and affordable pay deal which is reflective of our Unions aspirations as well as ensuring our vital bus services and networks are sustainable across the Liverpool City Region. We will update when there’s news."
While the strike action is likely to cause a big headache for commuters, with large parts of the region reliant on bus services due to the makeup of the rail network, figures such as Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram are backing the workers taking action. Mayor Rotheram, who is in charge of transport for the city region, shared a joint statement that was also signed by Manchester’s Metro Mayor Andy Burnham. As well as support for bus drivers taking action, the statement offers support for other professions who’ve recently been on strike, such as criminal barristers.
The statement reads: No one wants to see strikes happening. But at times, the only means working people have left to defend their livelihoods is industrial action. We support the right to take action to protect jobs, safety, pensions, pay and conditions."
Praise for testing pilot
Covid rates are on the rise, but the challenges at hand compared to the first year of the pandemic seem worlds apart. In the early autumn of 2020, Liverpool saw its rates dramatically spiral, leading it to be one of the first cities to be placed in Tier 3 - which featured the strictest measures in a bid to contain the spread of coronavirus.
A few months later the city found itself the subject of the world’s first testing pilot, which is said to have saved lives and prevented emergency services from collapsing into catastrophe during the pandemic. The pilot offered free, symptomless testing to residents across the city, but also focussed on ensuring as many frontline workers could remain in their posts at a critical time.
New findings published by a major health journal have revealed that the testing pilot saved almost 8,000 work days from being lost to self-isolation. Due to more stringent isolation rules for those with the virus and for those who’ve been in close contact, there was a risk of so many staff being in quarantine that essential services would be unavailable. Therefore Liverpool pioneered the ‘test-to-release’ approach with daily testing as an alternative to quarantine.
READ MORE: Liverpool mass testing pilot saved lives and prevented covid catastrophe
More scrutiny
Liverpool council must feel like a pressure cooker at the moment. A report into the energy bill fiasco is set to be published in a matter of days, with Mayor Joanne Anderson wanting to see “full accountability” for the failures.
Government installed commissioners are also set to publish their latest report. The mood music, based on a memo leaked to the ECHO last month, isn’t at all positive. It’s expected that further intervention could be brought in to ensure the council remains on track in its improvement journey.
If all that wasn’t enough to heighten the pressure, another round of scrutiny is set to be heaped on the council. As reported by the ECHO’s David Humphreys, An external investigation into Liverpool Council requested by its own auditors is expected to issue its first stage report within the next six weeks.
Law firm TLT LLP has been tasked with leading a scope into the local authority’s records to establish whether there is any evidence of “improper influence in the council’s decision making arising from the actions of the former Mayor and former senior officers.” The investigation was requested by Liverpool Council’s auditors Grant Thornton who said they cannot sign off on books for 2019/20 until it had taken place.
READ MORE: Investigation ordered by Liverpool Council's auditors 'to report within six weeks'
In focus
The view
"Don't be fooled by those who have stood by him and defended him in allowing people to die unnecessarily of COVID, of joining in the cronyism and corruption and covering up his lies"
Labour MP Kim Johnson on the Cabinet resignations |
Changing face of Castle Street
Castle Street in central Liverpool was once the financial centre of the city. The street and surroundings area was featured a raft of banks and building societies. Few banks still operate in the area, and so the grand structures they left behind have largely been repurposed as the area has gradually become a dominant hospitality hub.
Plans are still being considered to convert the Grade I listed bank of England into a restaurant, but sat across the road, progress can now be made in converting the former Parr Bank and Natwest Bank. With a circular banking hall as its centrepiece, the building retained its grand pillars, dome and gold ceiling detailing throughout processes of modernisation. It was last used as a bank five years ago but has been empty ever since. Yesterday plans were approved by the Liverpool council’s planning committee for the ground floor of the former bank to be converted into a restaurant and bar.
ECHO Chamber
Much of Liverpool’s hospitality offer is rapidly changing, but here are a few establishments that many still look back on with great fondness. |
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