City Region Mayor Campaign Kicks off in Maghull
Bill Esterson joined Labour's metro Mayor Candidate Steve Rotheram on the campaign trail, as Mr Rotheram kicked off his campaign in Maghull. Steve Rotheram, who is the MP for Liverpool Walton, joined Sefton Central MP Bill Esterson and the Maghull Labour Action Team on the campaign trail.
Bill Esterson chaired Steve Rotheram’s campaign to be Labour candidate. Bill Esterson said "The Metro Mayor is a completely new position. It is a chance to take control of our City Region and work with businesses to create the jobs we need and boost the local economy. It is also a chance to show the country and indeed the world just what the Liverpool City Region can achieve. It is time that Maghull, Crosby and Formby were part of a vibrant successful region, punching above our weight and showing the country what Labour in power can achieve. Steve Rotheram is the ideal candidate to lead the way and to show what taking control of our own area and reducing reliance on London, can deliver. "Steve Rotheram is quite simply, one of us. Steve’s family moved to Kirkby after the city's slum clearance programme. He was an apprentice bricklayer, set up a construction business, and went on to manage apprenticeship projects across Merseyside. Steve is incredibly proud to have called our great City Region home, all his life. Steve Rotheram's vision is for an economic and industrial strategy, built on social justice and with no borough left behind. Steve Rotheram will be a metro mayor for the whole of the Liverpool City Region.
“At his launch he challenged the Prime Minister, Theresa May to give our city region the money and the power to contribute to the success of Britain’s economy and if the Conservative government is serious, they will do what Steve is asking for the good of the country.
“Steve will work with all the people of the city region to help make sure we have the jobs and success we all want. *Steve’s plans include: truly affordable housing for all, prioritising brownfield sites for development to protect precious green spaces as far as possible, across our City Region. Under Steve's leadership, Liverpool City Region will build council houses to rent and starter homes to buy.
*A 21st Century transport system to support local communities and businesses. Steve will re-regulate our bus services, support brand new trains on Merseyrail and fight for high speed rail services to connect the North of our country.
*We've talked about harnessing our tidal and wind resources for decades: it's time to make the Mersey Barrage a reality. Steve Rotheram will put the benefits of renewable energy back into every household in the City Region.
*True parity between academic and technical training. Before becoming an MP Steve managed the apprenticeship strategy for Merseyside. As Mayor he will deliver industry-standard and degree level apprenticeships, tailored to match an economic strategy for the whole City Region.
*Steve Rotheram will realise our potential as an international hotbed for innovative start-ups with Mayoral funding and the infrastructure our entrepreneurs need to create a high-skill economy.
Bill Esterson added "Steve was Lord Mayor in the Capital of Culture year, helping to change perceptions of our City Region. As a Member of Parliament, he has used a national platform to fight for justice, from the Shrewsbury Pickets and the Scottish Power miss-selling scandal, to compensation for victims of mesothelioma among other campaigns. And of course, Steve Rotheram played a significant role in support of the families and survivors of Hillsborough.
"Steve is in politics to help people - not to be someone. He wants to use his position to build a bright future for all of our communities, with the fight for justice and equality continuing to drive all he does.
"He will be a superb ambassador for this great city region and he will deliver the positive changes we all need to see to ensure our people and our area thrive."
Bill Esterson MP is pictured with Steve Rotheram and member of the Labour Action Team outside Maghull Town Hall
