The new leader of Liverpool Council has vowed to deliver “hard work, not fireworks” as he takes control of the local authority.
Cllr Liam Robinson, leader of Liverpool Labour, was formally confirmed as the first leader of the city council for more than a decade as the new look authority held its inaugural meeting following this month’s landmark all out elections. More than 300 candidates contested 64 newly drawn wards, with Labour extending its grip on power for another four years, with 61 out of 85 amended seats at Liverpool Town Hall.
Delivering his first speech in his official role as the city’s leader, Cllr Robinson said he was “honoured and humbled” to be elected to the post. He said: “It won’t be missed that while I wasn’t born and raised in this city, I am a proud adopted scouser.”
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The former Merseytravel transport committee holder told a packed Town Hall how following the “fantastic” two weeks of Eurovision events, he “couldn’t be luckier coming into this office.” Prior to the election, Liverpool had been governed by an elected Mayor and cabinet system until the position was scrapped earlier this year following a contentious public consultation process.
The last person to hold the post - Joanne Anderson - stepped down from the role two weeks ago. Cllr Robinson also confirmed who would make up his executive team for the next 12 months, with a number of members retaining their places in cabinet having been in post under Mayor Anderson.
The football fan leader said: “We are at our very best when we come together as a team. I am proud to pull on the captain’s armband and lead this team.”
Harry Doyle, Sarah Doyle, Frazer Lake and Daniel Barrington will remain while Cllrs Nick Small, Laura Robertson-Collins and Liz Parsons return to cabinet positions. Cllr Ruth Bennett has been named deputy leader to Cllr Robinson while Cllr Lila Bennett also joins the 10-strong team.
Cllr Robinson repeated his manifesto pledge to “finish the job of fixing the council” and ensure the government intervention ends on time in June next year. He said it was a “serious task for a serious team” and said he would bring “hard work, not fireworks” to the role.
Vowing to put his heart and soul into the job, the Labour councillor said he and his cabinet cabinet would work “morning, noon and night” to “deliver the very best we can for the people of the city, because at the end of the day, that’s what Liverpool deserves, the very, very best.”
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