Liverpool’s political leaders are looking forward to the general election

Liverpool’s political leaders are gearing up for the upcoming general election.

After months of speculation, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak finally took to Downing Street on Wednesday to confirm when the vote would take place. Against the background of the torrential rain, the conservative leader announced that the country will have the chance to express its opinion on who governs it on July 4.

With six weeks of campaigning underway, the leaders of the major groups on Liverpool Council’s benches have given their verdict on the impending vote.

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As it stands, Keir Starmer and the Labor Party are poised to reclaim the keys to 10 Downing Street after 14 years of Conservative government. Liverpool party leader Cllr Liam Robinson has been effusive about their bid since the summer vote.

He said: “This election is about change, stopping the chaos with the Tories and starting to rebuild Britain with Labour. The people of Liverpool have been let down for far too long, only Labor has a plan to reduce NHS waiting times and get the economy growing again.

“I’m really excited about The New Deal for Working People, a genuine living wage and a ban on zero hours contracts will make a real difference overnight here in our communities.”

In last year’s local elections, the only area where Labor suffered a bloody nose was Garston, where they lost to the Liverpool Community Independents. The three-strong group of two former Labor members in Cllrs Alan Gibbons and Sam Gorst will be hoping to do so again when the latter takes on MP Maria Eagle in the race.

Group leader Cllr Gibbons explained why they challenged the long-time Labor veteran. He said: “Our group of three advisers is new but this is a crucial choice amid the collapse of public services at home and a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

“Therefore we feel compelled to stand, so we are putting forward Cllr Sam Gorst in Liverpool Garston. Session deputy Maria Vultur represents the labor representatives. Starmer and Reeves retain the cap on two-child benefits while saying there should be no cap on bankers’ bonuses.

“They refuse to say there will be an end to the constant cuts in public services. The most morally damaging of all, Maria Eagle did not vote for a ceasefire in Gaza. The Tories cannot win in Garston, so voters may choose to vote on principle.

“It would be historic to defeat Labor at its heart, but we will campaign for a grassroots socialist alternative.”

The fortunes of the Lib Dems could be one of the defining elements of the election should a hung Parliament come into play. Cllr Carl Cashman has led the Liverpool group for the past 12 months.

He said, “It is time for Rishi Sunak to call the much needed general election. The Tories are out of date and the people of Liverpool are sick of them.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have much hope for a Labor government led by Starmer, who I think will just be Tories in red ties.”

One party that many disillusioned Labor voters have indicated they may turn to is the Greens. Cllr Tom Crone leads the three-strong group in Liverpool and said his party would focus its efforts on specific seats.

He said: “We are about to put our resources and campaign into position in all the seats covering our city but targeting the Wavertree constituency where we have strong Green support. Let’s be clear. There is no risk that the Tories – or their willing partners the Liberal Democrats, who have helped five out of 14 years of misrule – will win in Liverpool.

“In Liverpool, we want you to vote for the strongest opposition party, as shown by the result of the most recent Metro mayoral election. Time to end 14 years of blue led coalition of chaos in government.

“Keir Starmer offers the Tories an almost identical set of policies on the issues that matter.”

The Wavertree seat will also be contested by the Liberal Party, which also holds three Liverpool City Hall seats. Their leader, Cllr Steve Radford, was quick to talk about the Prime Minister’s chances for another five years.

He said: “He jumped before being pushed and guillotined by his own party. We will send candidates to strength areas such as Merseyside and Cornwall, with new members in Scotland.

“The country is broken, there has never been a decade when things are worse than at the start of a government. Continuing with the same policies will not change anything about Keir Starmer, it will only increase the disappointment.”

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